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| Pictured far right: Dr. Gary Malacarne, PharmD, discussed Cole Memorial’s Naloxone grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency at the Potter County Criminal Justice Advisory Board |
Press Release-
COUDERSPORT, PA —A recent announcement issued to Cole Memorial from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), could save hundreds of lives in the northcentral region. Cole Memorial was selected as Potter County’s sole Centralized Coordinating Entity (CCE) for the receipt and distribution of Naloxone, also known as “Narcan”, a prescription medicine used to rapidly reverse heroin and other opioid-related overdoses. Act 139 or David’s Law was enacted in 2014 to make naloxone available to law enforcement, first responders, medical professionals or other persons trained to assist an individual at-risk of experiencing an overdose.
Cole Memorial’s Director of Pharmacy Dr. Gary Malacarne, PharmD, presented the hospital’s CCE program to over 15 judges, school administrators, members of law enforcement and human service agencies at the Potter County Criminal Justice Advisory Board on January 11. Intranasal Naloxone kits were made available for the organizations in attendance after signing a proof of training to administer the medication in overdose emergency situations.
With opioids killing more people than any other health crisis in Pennsylvania's modern history, Governor Tom Wolf declared a disaster emergency on January 10, 2018. Last year, Pennsylvania’s coroners and medical examiners reported more than 4,800 deaths as a result of drug abuse; with thousands more affected by addiction, either personally, or through family, friends and loved ones.
“We’re honored to assist with the distribution of Naloxone to first responders in our county,” stated Valarie Jackson, vice president and executive director of Cole Memorial Hospital. “We have taken a serious stance to preserve life when possible through partnerships, health policy, prevention and education, as we’ve seen first-hand the implications of opioid abuse in our communities.”
Cole Memorial will host a meeting to review the CCE program and its policies on the dissemination of Naloxone provided by the commonwealth. Potter County first-responders and other agencies trained to respond and administer Naloxone are invited to attend. The meeting will take place on January 25, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. in Cole Memorial Hospital’s main conference room. For more information, please call 814-274-5314.
