Narcan soon to be a part of law enforcement’s arsenal

Local law enforcement agencies will soon follow the national trend combating opiate overdoses by adding a new weapon to their arsenal. The prescription medicine Narcan, known as naloxone HCL, is FDA approved with the ability to reverse the effects of an opiate overdose. The drug has the ability to take affect in minutes and can be injected into a muscle or administered by a nasal spray.Like reports across the nation, the opiate crisis has made its way to the Twin Lakes Area. Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery says he has seen a growing trend of opioid abuse. Although Baxter County doesn’t have a tremendous problem with opiates as seen in large cities, Montgomery has seen and heard about more heroin over the past 12 months than in his 28 years in law enforcement.

To address the local issue, 14th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney David Ethredge is spearheading the effort for local law enforcement, working with Baxter Regional Medical Center, to secure funding for both the City of Mountain Home Police Department and the Baxter County Sheriff’s Department. According to Ethredge, the cost of the Narcan kits will be covered by Baxter Regional and asset forfeiture.

Ethredge says the effort is equally important for an overdose by a drug-user and for an officer or first responder who has come into contact with an opiate. In a June 22nd blog published by The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, emergency responders face significant risks when exposed to opiates by coming into contact with them during the collection of evidence or inadvertently inhaling them. One drug in particular, Fentanyl, which has seen a recent explosion in overdoses and deaths, is particularly dangerous as it is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine or heroin.

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The push to have Narcan as an available resource is for preventative measures to reduce exposure.

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Ethredge says Baxter Regional Medical Center has been instrumental in securing funding for Narcan kits which will be provided at a later date after all emergency personnel are properly trained.

The plan is to provide School Resource Officers with Narcan kits as well.

 

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