Westchester County is fighting back against the heroin epidemic that has claimed hundreds of young lives in the past five years by offering free Narcan training.

As part of the county's safer communities initiative, the free training was offered Monday at the Yonkers Riverfront Library. So far, 800 local police officers and 350 residents have been trained, saving at least 17 lives in the past year.

Each participant was given needleless syringes, a nasal atomizer and two vials and Narcan at the end of the seminar.

Yonkers police were the first in the county to train officers to use Narcan. They are credited with saving 11 lives in two years.

Anyone interested in signing up for free training can call the county Health Department at 914-995-6584.