ROCKLAND - The Penobscot Bay YMCA spearheaded a partnership of local Knox County nonprofits for a special staff training opportunity on Friday, January 11, 2019, at the Flanagan Community Center in Rockland. 

YMCAs have a long history of providing communities with prevention and treatment services. Located in 10,000 communities across the country, Ys are often on the front lines of the opioid epidemic, not only providing support to individuals and their families but also to communities that have been impacted, especially in the hardest hit states like Maine.

With over 400 Maine deaths in the past year from opioid overdose, and as a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y responds to our community’s most pressing issues by developing innovative, community-based solutions to help those in need. The Y understands the challenges that keep individuals from reaching their full potential and responds with services and support to help individuals and families to be self-reliant, productive, and connected to the community.

Many opioid emergencies occur in public settings. Therefore, many public health officials, including the U.S. Surgeon General, advocate that community-based organizations keep Naloxone/NARCAN on hand in the event of opioid emergencies and that staff understand how to use it.  

This training taught front-line staff at the Y’s locations in Rockland, Rockport, and Camden, and staff from the Knox County Homeless Coalition and OUT Maine, to administer the Naloxone/NARCAN nasal spray in the event of an overdose at their respective facilities and sites.  Taught by Dr. Kendra Emery of Penobscot Bay Medical Center and Abby Planeta, a paramedic from the Rockland Fire Department, the class certified over forty nonprofit staff.

“Our Y is thrilled to be a powerful community resource and part of our Knox County conversation surrounding this epidemic, which crosses all ethnic and socio-economic lines,” according to Melissa Bellew, CEO of the Penobscot Bay YMCA.  “We will continue to provide appropriate care to all those who enter our Y facilities.”

For additional information, contact Melissa Bellew at the Y, mbellew@penbayymca.org or 207-236-3375.