Law enforcement deploys anti-opioid drug to patrol units

Hundreds of Narcan kits are now in the hands of law enforcement officers in Manatee County to help EMS saves lives in the ongoing battle against the opioid epidemic.

In May, BPD received $20,000 from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to purchase 400 units. BPD is giving 100 units to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and 40 units have been delivered to the Palmetto Police Department.

BPD officers completed training from EMS personnel in June on how to recognize when an overdose victim requires the use of Narcan and how to administer it.

“The officers received some valuable training,” said Lt. Jeremy Giddens. “I think they were already aware of what the symptoms and signs of what an overdose looks like. EMS was able to reinforce that with the training we received. This Narcan will partner up with the training we received and we’ll deploy it to the streets — and hopefully be able to save someone’s life.”

Since police officers are typically the first on the scene of an overdose, law enforcement is all too familiar with the symptoms. Until now, officers had to wait for EMS personnel to respond, saving precious minutes that can be the difference between life and death.

Through the first seven months of 2017, EMS has administered Narcan 1,440 times, already more than in all of 2015 and on pace to exceed the 2,521 doses administered in 2016. BPD has responded to 205 thus far in 2017, Palmetto 44, and the sheriff’s office, 787.

Law enforcement are up the task to get into the fight, Giddens said.

“We are deploying Narcan to the officers so they can begin using it when we come into contact with the folks who are experiencing an overdose,” he said. “Narcan training went great and the officers are ready.”

This story was originally published August 1, 2017 at 2:11 PM with the headline "Law enforcement deploys anti-opioid drug to patrol units."