SUWANNEE COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - The opioid epidemic continues to reek havoc in communities across the country.
Local sheriff’s offices are working to carry life saving medication Narcan on every beat.
Heroin, fentanyl, and even prescription drugs like oxycodone or are highly addictive opioids. In some cases, they can be life threatening. If caught early enough, a person can be saved with Narcan.
"Narcan is actually just a medication that will counter an opiate overdose," said Lt. Eddie Elmore, the public affairs officer for Troop A. "Once the subject goes into overdose, then the Narcan will just counteract the reaction that they are having."
A drug that could potentially save a life must come with a hefty price, right? Well, a single dose could cost about $38, but the Suwannee County Sheriff says it's worth it to have on hand.
Regardless of cost, the Florida Sheriff’s Association feels that officers should carry a dose with them.
"We've partnered with the Florida Sheriff's Association and got most of them through a grant so it doesn't cost the tax payers of Suwannee County anything," said Sheriff Sam St. John with the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office. "We've had to buy a few extra ones, but we got most of what we need through the Florida Sheriff's association and the grant they provided for us."
Because of the growing opioid crisis, and strength of the drugs, Narcan is another piece of the officers uniform.
"Anything that we can do to help anybody out and keep us informed, that's what we want to," said St. John. "This is just one of the things that we have all of our officers carry so they are prepared for anything they may face out there."
The Suwannee County Sheriff's Officers have been carrying Narcan with them for about two months, but have only needed to administer it one time.
SUWANNEE COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - The Suwannee County Sheriff's Office has partnered with the Florida Sheriff's Association to train deputies to administer Narcan.
SCSO states Narcan nasal spray, an emergency substance that counteracts the life-threatening affects of an opioid overdose, is a life-saving tool for law enforcement because it causes no harm when administered.
Deputies will now be able to administer Narcan to those who are found in severe distress from an apparent opioid overdose prior to the arrival of Suwannee County Fire Rescue paramedics.
SCSO notes that deputies have already been utilizing the life-saving tool in the community.
On June 9, deputies received a 911 call regarding a woman who passed out and possibly stopped breathing. When deputies arrived, they found the woman in respiratory distress due to suspected opioid use.
Responding deputies gave the woman Narcan before the arrival of Suwannee County Fire Rescue and the woman's breathing improved, possibly saving her life.
That woman was then transported to a local hospital for treatment.
SCSO says Narcan can also be used in cases of a sheriff's office employee who comes into accidental contact with a drug like Fentanyl.
There were 5,700 opioids related deaths in Florida in 2017.
