THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2020 Page 5 City Council calls on city to fund emergency Narcan By Barbara Taormina City Auditor Richard Viscay was T he city government is looking at setting up a fund to cover the cost of Narcan when it’s needed to save someone who has overdosed. At this week’s City Council meeting, Councillor-at-Large George Rotondo proposed that Revere reimburse pharmacies for Narcan used in emergencies to reverse the eff ects of an opioid overdose. “This is in response to a widely publicized event that took place at Walgreens, allegedly,” said Rotondo, referring to accounts of a 32-year-old man who stopped at Walgreens while on his way to a rehab program and ended up overdosing in the pharmacy’s bathroom. “What was reported was that the gentleman who was accompanying him asked for some Narcan, and they wouldn’t give it to him because it cost too much money,” he said, adding that Walgreens charges $50 for the nasal spray. Rotondo questioned the common sense of Walgreens and its management staff who refused to help someone who was dying. “That’s just utterly disgusting to me,” he said. confi dent that the city could set up a system to reimburse pharmacies for Narcan. “We supply Narcan to public safety offi cials,” he said. “We stock it and we have a budget for it. What you’re asking won’t be impossible; we just need to work out the logistics for it.” Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto said Rotondo’s proposal is a great idea but added that he is uncomfortable with Walgreens part in the story because it is hearsay. “Maybe I don’t want to believe that they wouldn’t give Narcan to someone who was dying in the bathroom,” he said. But Nick Moulaison, who runs the local nonprofi t group Recovery Thoughts, stepped up to respond to Zambuto and share what he knows about the incident. “Tony – not to go against you – but it’s wholeheartedly true,” said Moulaison. “The manager and the store employees refused to give the Narcan because it cost too much money.” According to Phil Caruso, a Walgreens spokesperson based at the company’s headquarters in Deerfi eld, Ill., money and the cost of Narcan were not factors in in the way the Walgreens’ staff handled the emergency. “The employees who responded were not pharmacy staff ; they work in the retail section of the store and they were unfamiliar with Narcan,” said Caruso. “They didn’t even know what it was.” Caruso said employees called 911 and fi rst responders arrived almost immediately. “The whole incident occurred in a matter of seconds,” said Caruso, adding that everyone at Walgreens was glad to hear that the man who overdosed had recovered. Councillors Steven Morabito and Rotondo suggested the city offi cials should investigate what happened at Walgreens and possibly help employees better understand how to respond to these emergencies, which have become all too common. Rotondo also suggested that the city could use the incident as a measure of education for the community. “People have no idea of the grip heroin and fentanyl have on our community, our children and our families,” he said. The City Council voted unanimously to send Rotondo’s proposal to have the city cover the cost of emergency Narcan to the Ways and Means Subcommittee for review. Start Your Weekend at the Marina Dance Party! Saturday, February 29 at 9 PM Dance to the Hits from House to Techno DJ LOGIK Friday, February 28 at 9 PM Enjoy the Musical Stylings of BILLY PEZZULO MONDAY'S SHUCK! $1.00 Oysters Book your next Function with us! Free Parking • Water Views Call 781-629-3798 SUNDAY BRUNCH BUFFET Only $19.95 / 11am-2pm Featuring Al Whitney Jazz Band BOOK YOUR NEXT FUNCTION WITH US * GIFT CARDS AMPLE FREE www.marinaatthewharf.com 543 North Shore Rd. Revere 781-629-3798 PARKING AMAZING WATER VIEWS Like us on Facebook advocate newspaper Facebook.com/Advocate.news.ma
6 Publizr Home