The Justice Department posted a video message Monday referring to the rise in overdose deaths from heroin and other prescription pain-killers an “urgent public health crisis.” In the video message Attorney General Eric Holder endorses the use of Naloxone, known commonly as Narcan, by first responders.
The Justice Department wants to combat the epidemic through a mix of enforcement and treatment efforts including law enforcement to train and equip personnel with Naloxone, the life-saving over dosing renewal drug with the brand name Narcan.
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The Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, an international non-profit organization of criminal justice professionals against the current drug policies are for the move. The group has advocated police using this approach before but have met with opposition from the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
“It is simply immoral not to support something proven to save lives for political reasons,” said executive director Major Neill Franklin. “Yes, police send a message when they choose not to carry naloxone. But that message is not ‘don’t do drugs,’ it’s ‘if you make the wrong decisions in your life, we don’t care about you.’ That offends me both as a former cop and as a human being.”
So far 17 states have already begun to increase the use of Narcan along with ‘Good Samaritan Laws’ that ensure those who look for medical help for overdose victims will not risk prosecution, which has saved thousands of lives.
In Massachusetts, there has already been a push to equip first responders with Narcan. Starting in 2010 Quincy officers began carrying the nasal spray and have seen an significant decrease in mortalities among opiate-related deaths. According to Lt. Detective Patrick Glynn, the drug has been administered 221 times since the program began and reversed 211 overdoses.
The state also has a Good Samaritan law and all Boston paramedics and EMT’s carry Narcan.
Recently, New Bedford saw 15 drug overdoes in a 24 hour period. As well, in late February Senator Ed Markey and basketball star Chris Herren met in Taunton with the hope of combating the same issue seen in Fall River. Senator Markey is calling for an expansion of Narcan programs for first responders and bystanders, greater access to addiction treatments, and modernization of America’s treatment system.
(Image via Syracuse)
