Free Narcan Training at Octavia Fellin Library Set for Jan. 27

A free Narcan training is taking place at Octavia Fellin Public Library in Gallup today from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm MST, hosted by Octavia Fellin Public Library and the City of Gallup Behavioral Health Department. The session teaches how to recognize an opioid overdose and how to administer naloxone (Narcan), equipping residents with a practical life-saving skill.

The two-hour training targets members of the public, including family members, neighbors, and community workers who may encounter someone experiencing an opioid overdose. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that can reverse the effects of opioid overdose when given in time, and bystander administration can bridge the minutes before emergency medical services arrive. Making naloxone training and access free reduces barriers that can delay response during a crisis.

Octavia Fellin Public Library and the City of Gallup Behavioral Health Department are presenting the training as part of local efforts to increase community readiness. The session offers hands-on instruction on recognizing signs of overdose, proper naloxone administration, and steps to take after administering the medication. Participants will leave with clearer guidance on when and how to act in an overdose situation.

For McKinley County residents, the training offers immediate, actionable preparation. Families coping with substance use, frontline workers, and anyone who spends time in community settings can benefit from learning these skills. A greater number of trained community members can reduce the time between overdose onset and intervention, which in turn can lower the likelihood of fatal outcomes.

The event also fits into broader public health strategies that emphasize harm reduction and community-based response. By hosting the training at a central public facility, Octavia Fellin Public Library and the City of Gallup Behavioral Health Department are signaling that overdose response is a community responsibility, not only a medical or law enforcement task. Free public trainings create more points of access to naloxone and information for residents across Gallup and surrounding areas.

Attending the session provides practical knowledge people can use immediately. For those unable to attend today, watch for future community health offerings from Octavia Fellin Public Library and the City of Gallup Behavioral Health Department. Expanding the pool of people trained to recognize and respond to opioid overdoses strengthens public safety and can directly save lives in McKinley County.