HARRISBURG Pa (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) On Friday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health announced they will be partnering with Saint Joseph’s University and the University of Pittsburgh’s Program Evaluation and Research Unit to provide education and training to first responders across the state.
The training will be surrounding the topics of substance use disorder, the use of naloxone, and stigma and implicit bias to help continue response to the opioid pandemic.
Saint Joseph’s University will be receiving $1.2 million from the department through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Overdose and Action Grant.
The University of Pittsburgh will receive about $2.8 million from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services’ (SAMHSA) First Responders-Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act.
The funds come directed from grants by the CDC and SAMHSA to the commonwealth of Pennsylvania to train those responding to the opioid epidemic.
Training will be provided at no cost to the first responders, including local law enforcement, emergency medical service providers, firefighters, and public safety professionals.
An Advisory Council is expected to convene from the department to oversee and coordinate the training.
“We are excited to partner with Saint Joseph’s University and the University of Pittsburgh to provide vital education and training to those responding to the opioid epidemic,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “The opioid epidemic continues to impact many Pennsylvanians across the state. This is why it is so important that we continue to provide the proper resources to those responding to this epidemic so we can keep our residents safe and create a healthy Pennsylvania for all.”
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