MASSENA -- There will be free naloxone training in Massena on April 24 at 2 p.m. at the Massena Community Center, 61 Beach St.

Naloxone is an opiate and opioid overdose antidote that is administered as a nasal spray.

Although it is not a substitute for calling 911, it can keep someone who is overdosing alive long enough for EMTs to arrive.

Many police and first responders around the country are carrying naloxone.

The training for naloxone administration is one hour. Most of that time is spent reviewing information about how it works and statistics about opiate addictions and overdoses.

The actual naloxone administration training is “a short time” because “it is a very easy process,” according to a statement from Comrades of Hope and Dr. Sally White, the event’s sponsors.

It can treat someone who has overdosed on heroin, methadone or narcotic painkillers.

“There is no risk of misusing or abusing naloxone. It only works on someone who has used opiates,” the statement reads.

Naloxone can be safely administered to children who might accidentally get into prescription painkillers, such as Vicodin (hydrocodone), Oxycontin and oxycodone.

No medical knowledge is necessary for the training.

After the one-hour session, all those who complete it will receive a free overdose prevention rescue kit.

At least five lives have been saved in the past two years by St. Lawrence County police officers and rescuers who administered the naloxone people suffering drug overdoses.

In Massena where opiates have hit St. Lawrence County the hardest, acting Chief Adam Love says the Naloxone is a great tool for officers. In February, Love said he’d like to see his entire force carrying the drug, but currently only one officer is qualified to administer it.

Love says the naloxone training is now taught at the academy. He said the only officer on the force that is trained to administer the drug is a recent graduate who came on in September of 2015.

“The officer that administered it was absolutely amazed. The man was only breathing twice a minute when he arrived and within just a few seconds he could see the color start to come back,” he said in February. “It’s pretty amazing.”

Unfortunately, Love says overdose calls occur on a near daily basis in Massena and there are no signs of that decreasing. He says heroin use is rampant and often begins with use of prescription drugs like Oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine and fentanyl.

“People start off on prescription opiates. They aren’t as afraid of them. But those can cost $80 for one pill, heroin is a lot cheaper so then they switch to that,” he said. “People have bad days and they use it and become addicted, but it’s so hard to come off. It takes significant time and effort.”

Love said that the drug problem is so bad in Massena his officers are routinely called to pick up used hypodermic needles. He said in once instance a Massena school student was accidently stuck with a discarded needle. Since then, the police and superintendent have held awareness meetings notifying students and staff to call police for disposal.

“Our officers have special gloves we use to dispose of the needles,” he said.

Comrades of Hope is a support group for loved ones of addicts, current or dead. They meet at the Massena Community Center on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 6 p.m.

More info on the naloxone event is on the group’s website, comradesofhope.com.