Students, faculty and members of the general public are signing up on the UMass Dartmouth campus for free training on the use of Narcan.

Narcan is a drug being used by first responders across the state to "bring back" heroin users who have overdosed.

University spokesman John Hoey says 14 peer health students have been trained so far. "We have a very active, very engaged Peer Health organization. It has won national awards in its response to public health issues, and opioid abuse is another one," said Hoey.

Hoey says the training will be offered at least once a semester.  He says Campus Police carry Narcan, but to his knowledge it has never been used.

The training offers instruction on recognizing the signs of an overdose, rescue breathing, and how to administer narcan. The training is provided by Seven Hills Behavioral Services.

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