Police to Begin Carrying Naloxone to Combat Opioid Overdoses

CITY OF GREENSBORO Contact: Susan Danielsen FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Phone: 336-574-4002

GREENSBORO, NC (Nov. 28, 2016) –Greensboro police will soon carry a potentially-life-saving medication as an emergency measure to treat opioid overdoses. The need for Greensboro Police Department officers to carry NARCAN ® nasal spray comes as a response to a nation-wide rise in opioid abuse that is mirrored in the Gate City. Although determining which specific drug caused an overdose can be difficult in some instances, police estimate that heroin, an illegal opioid, has been a significant contributor to the 56% increase in drug overdoses this year compared to last. Emergency medical technicians and firefighters, the officials who usually arrive at medical calls before police, have been carrying a form of naloxone, sold under the brand name NARCAN ® since the late 1990s. However, the sharp rise in the opioid-related overdoses prompted Chief Wayne Scott to find ways to get the antidote in to the hands of police. Through the efforts of Project Lazarus, a non-profit organization that provides technical assistance and training to prevent overdoses, GPD received 300 units of NARCAN ® nasal spray at no cost in late October. Each patrol car will carry two injectors. “Officers were telling me that they were seeing too many people suffering from potentially-fatal heroin overdoses, and they wanted the medication readily available to help combat the effects of the drug,” said Scott. “We are thankful that Project Lazarus was able to get us such a large supply of naloxone so quickly.” ---MORE--- Naloxone works by rapidly binding to the opioid receptors in the respiratory and central nervous systems, thus blocking the drug’s effect, and helping people breathe again. Depending on the severity of the overdose, officers may need to administer several doses in order for the medication to be effective. Police will receive training on identifying opioid-related overdoses, and the proper way to administer NARCAN ®. GPD will purchase additional units of the medication as the existing stock depletes. The deployment of NARCAN ® supports Scott’s strategy of implementing emerging best practices in policing to reduce crime and improve quality of life.