Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission Distributes Free Narcan Kits, Fentanyl Testing Strips at Holy Family University’s Newtown East Campus
Members of the Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission, Inc. (BCDAC) recently distributed 59 Narcan kits and 59 fentanyl testing strips on the Holy Family University Newtown East campus and will be planning a second event on February 12, 2024, at the University’s Northeast Philadelphia location from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid which can be highly addictive. Narcan (naloxone) is a lifesaving nasal spray that has been shown to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose by blocking the effects of opiates on the brain and restoring breathing for a person who has injected a deadly level of the drug into their system.
Patrick McElwaine, Psy.D., LPC, a licensed clinical psychologist and professional counselor who serves as the director of Holy Family University’s Master of Counseling Psychology program and the University’s Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP), helped to coordinate the BCDAC visit as a form of outreach and addiction education and will be sharing out the kits and strips on the Holy Family Northeast campus on January 18, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Unfortunately, our community, like so many others across the country, has not escaped the opioid crisis,” Dr. McElwaine said. “We are grateful that BCDAC is providing these resources and collaborating with us to educate and protect our students and their families who may be in the throes of these addictions. Efforts like these help us to remain active in our community, break the stigma of drug and alcohol use, initiate important dialogues, and proactively address issues that impact our campus and community.”
Created in 1973, BCDAC serves as the Single County Authority (SCA) for alcohol, tobacco, and other quality drug prevention, intervention and treatment and recovery support services for Bucks County residents. The organization works to promote healthy individuals, families, and communities, eliminate the misuse, abuse and addiction to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, and support those in recovery from addiction.
Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Health Care Coordinator Sheri L. Rubin, RN, joined Holy Family University professor and director of the Collegiate Recovery Program Dr. Pat McElwaine in distributing fentanyl testing strips and Narcan kits on the University’s Newtown East Campus in early November.