HONESDALE, PA — Wayne County District Attorney Janine Edwards addressed the Honesdale borough council at its April 13 meeting to make plain the seriousness of the local heroin epidemic as well as the scope of legal and health implications stemming from it, and to dispel misconceptions surrounding Naloxone (Narcan) use as an opiate overdose antidote. Following her presentation, the council voted unanimously to permit borough police use of Naloxone, reversing its earlier decision to prohibit police use of the antidote.

Edwards began by saying that since she took office in 2012, she has addressed more than 100 community groups, sharing with them her firsthand knowledge of the current heroin epidemic and its ravages on human health and community. Citing alarming statistics that Edwards attributes directly to ever-increasing heroin abuse—since 2013, property crime has increased 500% and drug-related felonies have increased 200%—she outlined heroin-abuse curtailment initiatives undertaken by the state and supported by the Wayne County district attorney’s office.

Pennsylvania’s Act 139 of 2014 was signed into law by Gov. Corbett and went into effect on November 29, 2014. The act provides for doctor-prescribed use of Naloxone by first responders to counter the lethal effects of opiate overdose. Specifically, Naloxone can restore in minutes the breathing of overdose victims whose respiratory systems have been suppressed by opiates. Since Act 139 went into effect, Edwards’ office has urged all Wayne County first responders to be trained and equipped to administer Naloxone and, to date, Hawley, Waymart and Lehigh municipalities have complied. Pennsylvania State Police will be trained and equipped to administer Naloxone as of May 1.

Edwards went on to discuss Naloxone, noting that it is a prescription drug (not a controlled substance) provided free of charge to police departments by the DA’s office, courtesy of grant funding. It is stored at room temperature, has a shelf life of over one year, and comes in two-dose boxes complete with instructions for overdose detection and proper administration. Although there are several methods by which Naloxone can be administered, including nasal inhalation and hypodermic syringe, the boxes that police receive contain EpiPen auto-injectors like those commonly used to administer antihistamines for severe allergic reactions. The antidote is delivered by pressing the pen against the victim’s skin.

The Wayne County Heroin Prevention Task Force is another of Edwards’ initiatives. President Gerald Margraf and vice president Susan Frisch addressed the council, saying that bringing heroin abuse out of the closet is the first step to ending it. They also said that almost everyone knows someone who has been affected by opiates, even if they don’t know any heroin abusers. Many commonly prescribed pain medications contain opiates, and accidental overdose and addiction to those medications is on the rise. Frisch said, “Your grandmother could be the next person who needs Naloxone to save her life.” For more information about task force services and an upcoming meeting in the Hamlin fire hall at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 16, visit the group on Facebook.

In other news, two family-owned-and-operated businesses, Weniger’s Variety Store and Day’s Bakery, are closing after being fixtures on Main Street for close to 60 years. Mayor Jack Bishop presented both Weniger and Day families with Mayor’s Recognition Awards for long and distinguished service to the borough and beyond.

Also, the borough council will hold a special meeting May 4 at 6 p.m. to discuss where Coach buses should park while loading and discharging passengers.