State troopers get drug overdose antidote

Daniel Kittredge
Posted 5/2/14

Narcan, or naloxone, counteracts the effects of an opioid overdose, and is administered through a nasal spray. All sworn members of the state police recently received training in its use.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

State troopers get drug overdose antidote

Posted

With the death toll from Rhode Island’s ongoing drug overdose epidemic continuing to rise, the State Police on Friday announced the full deployment of Narcan to state troopers.

“If Narcan can save even one life, then it is incumbent upon us to have it available and for our troopers to be trained in its administration,” said Col. Steven O’Donnell, superintendent of the state police. “Narcan will keep someone alive long enough for rescue personnel to respond, provide additional medical assistance, and transport the victim to the hospital. It’s the right thing to do.”

Narcan, or naloxone, counteracts the effects of an opioid overdose, and is administered through a nasal spray. All sworn members of the state police recently received training in its use, and the policy developed for troopers has become the template for other state and municipal police departments.

The Rhode Island Disaster Medical Assistance Team, or DMAT, conducted the training and has ordered 300 doses of Narcan for the state police. The Narcan kits cost $35.50 a piece, and were paid for with federal drug forfeiture funding. DMAT assembled the kits at no cost.

Uniformed patrol troopers will receive 158 kits, while detectives will receive 23. The Division of Sheriffs will be trained and receive 55 kits, and the Capitol Police will receive 15. Richmond, Burrillville and Hopkinton police will each receive 15 kits at their request, and four will be kept for surplus.

State health officials recently announced the number of overdose deaths in Rhode Island this year is now at 90, representing a more than 20 percent increase over the same timeframe in 2013. Opiates – including heroin and prescription painkillers – have been at the center of the crisis.

Comments

1 comment on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

  • warwickguy

    This is ridiculous, If you get involved in doing drugs you take a chance of dying. People need to take responsibility for their own actions.

    Tuesday, May 6, 2014 Report this