Erie County Department of Health announces 2024 Narcan training schedule

Learn how and when to use Narcan (naloxone) at these free in-person and online classes; sessions for family members available

Submitted by the Erie County Department of Health

The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) has published its Narcan training schedule for 2024. These free classes, available in person and online, teach participants how and when to use Narcan to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, as well the history of the opioid epidemic and issues around substance use disorder.

Narcan (also called naloxone) is a life-saving medication, easily added to personal and household first-aid kits. All participants will receive a free Narcan kit after the training is complete.

ECDOH’s office of harm reduction and its community partners have trained more than 6,700 people on Narcan use in 2023 so far.

“We built our schedule for next year with options that can meet most everyone’s schedules,” Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein said. “Each month, we have options for an in-person class, a one-hour ‘lunch and learn’ format, or a virtual evening or Saturday training.”

For information on group training for a business, school or organization, call 716-858-7783. Register for virtual or in-person trainings at http://www.erie.gov/opioidtrainings.

In 2023, the Erie County office of harm reduction added a family coordinator to its staff.

Narcan trainings specifically for family members affected by the opioid epidemic are also available on the third Wednesday of each month. Call 716-858-2170 for details.

In-Person Schedule

Trainings are held at the Erie County Emergency and Training Operations Center, 3359 Broadway, Cheektowaga. Ample parking is available. 2024 sessions run from 6-8 p.m. on:

• Jan. 11
• Feb. 15
• March 14
• April 11
• May 16
• June 13
• July 18
• Aug. 15
• Sept. 19
• Oct. 17
• Nov. 14
• Dec. 12

Virtual/Online Trainings

Registration is required for virtual trainings. Virtual training participants will need a computer with internet access or a smart phone with the ability to access WebEx.

•Virtual “lunch and learn” sessions take place from noon to 1 p.m. on: 

• Jan. 12
• Feb. 6
• March 7
• April 12
• May 10
• June 10
• July 11
• Aug. 1
• Sept. 6
• Oct. 4
• Nov. 5
• Dec. 4

•Virtual evening sessions run from 6-8 p.m. on:

• Jan. 9
• Feb. 8
• March 12
• April 11
• May 7
• June 6
• July 16
• Aug. 6
• Sept. 10
• Oct. 8
• Nov. 7
• Dec. 9

Saturday Mornings (Virtual)

Virtual Saturday sessions are held from 9-11 a.m. on:

• Jan. 13 
• Feb. 7
• March 9
• April 13
• May 11
• June 8
• July 13
• Aug. 3
• Sept. 7
• Oct. 5
• Nov. 2
• Dec. 7

For more:

• Text for Narcan: 716-225-5473 
• Erie County, Narcan training schedule: www.erie.gov/opioidtrainings