As communities across Ocean County continue battling the opioid crisis, especially during the summer months, one township is taking additional steps to make overdose-reversal medication more accessible to the public – raising the question of whether Lakewood should consider doing the same.

Manchester Township announced this week that, in partnership with the Ocean County Health Department, it has installed a Narcan Deployment Kit outside Manchester Township Town Hall using National Opioid Settlement Funding.

The publicly accessible station, located in the Town Hall parking lot, provides residents with free Narcan – the medication used to rapidly reverse opioid overdoses.

In addition, Manchester Township EMS plans to begin offering free Narcan training sessions starting in June, giving residents the opportunity to learn how to administer the life-saving medication in emergency situations.

Officials also reminded residents that the Manchester Township Police Department participates in the Project Medicine Drop Program, allowing expired or unused medications to be safely discarded at police headquarters.

With overdose deaths continuing to impact communities throughout New Jersey, the initiative is drawing attention as a possible model for other municipalities.

Should Lakewood consider implementing similar public-access Narcan stations and community training programs?