Naloxone Kits To Be Distributed To School Bus Drivers

On September 26 at 10:00 a.m. at Triton Regional High School, the Camden County Board of Commissioners will join elected officials, members of the Black Horse Pike Regional School District, and members of the county’s Addiction Awareness Task Force to distribute Naloxone kits to school bus drivers at Triton Regional High School.

This is part of the county’s ongoing initiative to make the overdose reversal medication, also known as Narcan, more accessible.

Bellmawr Police Chief William Perna and Bellmawr Mayor Chuck Sauter will be attending this event along with Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr., Camden County Prosecutor, Grace MacAulay, Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Brian Repici, Camden County Health Officer Paschal Nwako, Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins, Runnemede Police Chief Bill Sampolski, bus driver Stacey Kendall, and Camden County Addiction Awareness Task Force Members.

“Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a critical tool in our battle against the opioid and overdose epidemic,” said Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. “We need to keep this medicine on hand in every corner of our community because you never know when you are going to need it. Unfortunately, we know that it is possible to lose a child to overdose in a school setting – and most recently on a school bus – so distributing these kits and training school staff is a measure we must take to keep our children safe.”

So far, four districts across the county are participating in the program and 104 bus drivers have been trained to administer Naloxone.

The Camden County Addiction Awareness Task Force and the county Department of Health and their division of Mental Health and Addiction has made bold and unprecedented policy decisions since the onset of this epidemic. The combined efforts have yielded programs like operation SAL that provides our community with treatment options, litigation against the big pharmaceutical companies and their distributors and education for families on the ubiquity of opioids in all recreational narcotics.

Also, the Camden County Jail has been held up as a national model by the White House and U.S. Senator Cory Booker providing medically assisted treatment to its residents and creating a continuity of care for their release from the facility. This program has reduced recidivism, supported re-entry and saved lives.

In addition, the Camden County Commissioners have worked on a variety of harm reduction policies by installing Naloxone boxes throughout the county park system and every public school from Camden City to Winslow Township. Additionally, the Commissioners also provide free Narcan training sessions, fentanyl test strips, NaloxBoxes for social service organizations and mental health support for those who have lost a loved one to substance use disorder.

Anyone seeking addiction assistance should call 1-844-ReachNJ (732-2465), which provides free professional support for those facing addiction and their loved ones. If you are a Camden County resident suffering from substance abuse disorder, please call the Office of Mental Health and Addiction at (856) 374-6361.

The event location will be the school bus depot at Triton Regional High School, 250 Schubert Avenue in Runnemede.