Saugus overdose class draws strong crowd

SAUGUS – Dawn Gaffney of the Saugus Anti-Drug Coalition said she was “pleasantly surprised” by the turnout for Wednesday night?s overdose prevention class as more than 50 people attended.?We actually sent the guys out for more chairs,” said Gaffney. “The room was packed solid.”The class was held at the Saugus Youth and Recreation Department in response to a recent spate of overdose deaths that have affected families in Saugus.Gaffney said most of those in attendance Wednesday were from Saugus and included people who deal with addiction every day.?I think we had pretty much every base covered,” said Gaffney. “We had a couple of addicts there and quite a few friends and family members, and then just people who were curious about what they could do in that situation if they came across somebody overdosing.”The class was put on the Healthy Streets Outreach Program, and Program Director Mary Wheeler said she and her staff listened to many stories of “intense heartache.”?Of families who have already lost their children, families who have children still using and those who are just concerned community members that want to be able to help should ?” said Wheeler. “People were very grateful for the information and several comments of ?We needed this information? and ?It?s about time Saugus did something like this? were overheard after the training.”Wheeler declined to let members of the media attend, citing privacy issues and the sensitive nature of the class.Wheeler said 32 people received Narcan kits, a drug that helps reverse opioid overdoses, along with lessons in how to spot an overdose and how to respond.School Committee member Arthur Grabowski attended the class as well along with a few Town Meeting members, and said he wanted to “see what the community is feeling and support them.”?We as a School Committee can?t just say, ?Oh, let the parents deal with it,?” said Grabowski. “It?s going to require some concerted efforts and some forward thinking about what kind of programs we can bring into the schools. It?s something we can?t hide or deny. It?s unfortunate.”Gaffney said she wants to make the class an ongoing event and is aiming to hold another one around the holiday season, which she said is a “tough time” for people.?There?s that fear all the time,” said Gaffney. “If you have a loved one who has an addiction problem, that?s fighting an addiction problem ? and in detox and relapsing, if you?re a family member, there?s always that thought that you never know when it?s going to happen. I think it just makes people feel more confident that they can sleep a little better, that there?s something they can do. It?s just having something to fall back on that?s in your control.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].