Sheriff’s deputies, police, firefighters soon to be armed with reversal agent to combat the growing epidemic
With the opioid crisis reaching epidemic proportions, the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff's Office is working with the drug court officials to raise money to arm all first responders with a drug called 'Narcan', which is designed as a reversal agent for people who have overdosed on the drug.
Escambia County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Mike Lambert said he has been working with Judge Brad Bryne and Drug Court Director Denise Carlee to raise about $7,800 to arm deputies, police officers and firefighters with the drug.
Lambert said the $7,800 would allow every deputy and every police officer in the county to have a dose of Narcan in their patrol car. He also said it will be offered to fire departments, both paid and volunteer, throughout the county.
Officially called Naloxone Hydrochloride, Narcan is an opioid antagonist indicated for the reversal of an opioid overdose, whether from legally prescribed opioids or from illegal opioids such as heroin or illegally produced fentanyl.
“It's basically an antidote for someone who has overdosed on an opioid-based substance, whether it was intentional or accidental,” Lambert said. “It's a reversal agent of the opioids.”
Lambert noted Narcan comes in a two-dose pack that is a mist and administered through the nostrils of someone who has overdosed on opioids. He also said state health officials have cleared the drug, noting if it is administered to someone who is not overdosing on an opioid it will not harm the patient.
Lambert said deputies and other first responders will be trained on when to administer the drug.
“The opioid epidemic is going up every day,” Lambert said.
He said while ambulance services may have the drug with them, it's normally a fireman, police officer or sheriff's deputy who is first on the scene in the event of an emergency.
“Lets say we get a call in the Bradley area, it may take an ambulance 30 to 45 minutes to get there,” Lambert said. “If we have a deputy or volunteer fireman in the area, he will be trained to administer the drug if needed. The first to respond is not usually the ambulance.”
Lambert said if something like diabetic shock is misread as an opioid overdose, Narcan will not hurt the patient if administered.
Lambert said all deputies, police officers and firemen will be trained free of charge before the drug is provided.
“It's a serious problem,” Lambert said. “In addition to people addicted to opioids we are seeing more accidental overdoses.”
Lambert did note that Narcan will not work to reverse the effects of synthetic drugs such as spice.
“It's designed to reverse the effects of opioids,” Lambert said. “The problem with synthetic drugs like spice is they have a variety of chemicals that could actually include roach spray or rat poison.”
Lambert said he hopes to have the doses of Narcan delivered by March, which will allow time to train officers on how and when to administer the drug.
