The University of Maine Cooperative Extension is offering a new online training program to help combat the opioid overdose crisis in collaboration with the University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension. The Community First Responder Program aims to provide education and resources to rural Mainers to help recognize and respond to an opioid overdose. 

“Drug overdose is now the leading cause of death in adults under 50 and we are feeling the effects of the epidemic acutely here in Maine,” said Lisa Phelps, Extension program administrator, in a news release. “Just two years ago, we recorded the highest number of overdose deaths ever at nearly 630. That’s a big increase over previous years and is largely due to synthetic opioids. This short, easy-to-use training teaches people how to recognize an opioid overdose and how to administer the simple, life-saving antidote." 

The training consists of a series of online modules and videos that take 25-30 minutes to complete. Learning objectives for the course include recognizing signs, symptoms and risk factors for a bad reaction to opioids; understanding how naloxone (Narcan) works and how to use it; and knowing how to handle intense situations.

At the end of the course, there is additional information on where to find over-the-counter naloxone at low or no cost. Interested parties can also request a free live training seminar for groups or a continuing education program accredited for pharmacists, nurses or licensed mental health counselors. 

UMaine Extension is also partnering with Bangor-based Health Equity Alliance (HEAL) and Husson University School of Pharmacy to offer this training to Maine residents.

More information can be found on the program website. (https://extension.umaine.edu/community/cfrp/)

To request a reasonable accommodation, contact 207.356.3851 or lisa.phelps@maine.edu.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension 

As a trusted resource for over 100 years, University of Maine Cooperative Extension has supported UMaine's land and sea grant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county. UMaine Extension seeks to build thriving communities and grow the food-based economy, focusing on aspects from production and processing to nutrition, food safety and food security. Extension also conducts the most successful out-of-school youth educational program in Maine through 4-H which offers hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture and civic engagement and creates a positive environment where participants are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles.

About the University of Maine

The University of Maine, founded in Orono in 1865, is the state's land grant, sea grant and space grant university, with a regional campus at the University of Maine at Machias. UMaine is located on Marsh Island in the homeland of the Penobscot Nation. UMaine Machias is located in the homeland of the Passamaquoddy Nation. As Maine's flagship public university, UMaine has a statewide mission of teaching, research and economic development, and community service. UMaine is the state's public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution. It attracts students from all 50 states and 86 countries. UMaine currently enrolls 11,571 undergraduate and graduate students, and UMaine Machias enrolls 763 undergraduates. Our students have opportunities to participate in groundbreaking research with world-class scholars. UMaine offers 77 bachelor's degrees and six undergraduate certificates, as well as more than 100 degree programs through which students can earn doctoral or master's degrees, professional master's degrees, and graduate certificates. UMaine Machias offers 18 associate and bachelor's degrees, and 14 undergraduate certificates. The university promotes environmental stewardship, with substantial efforts campuswide to conserve energy, recycle and adhere to green building standards in new construction. For more information about UMaine and UMaine Machias, visit umaine.edu and machias.edu.