Austin bar employees get training on opioid awareness [Video]

AUSTIN, Texas – The City of Austin recently provided training for bar employees on how to prevent and respond to an opioid-related crisis.

The training program, which began last year, focuses on overdose education and prevention for bar and venue owners in Austin and addresses things like identifying an overdose, supplying Narcan, calling 911 and rescue breathing.

Stevi Stevenson, operation and security lead for Emo’s and Scoot Inn, was one of a dozen who attended the training held by the City’s Development Services Department.

“We have a lot of incidents happen throughout concerts,” Stevenson said. “It’s spooky when those things happen, if you don’t really know what to do in those circumstances.”

Overdose awareness is deeply personal for Communities for Recovery program manager Phil Owen.

“I lost my son to a fentanyl overdose in 2017. And so I got embedded in this work. I had an opportunity for the position to get out and relate to …