All Flager County deputies now carry Narcan, the emergency opioid antagonist
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. (FOX 35 WOLF) - The Flagler County Sheriff's Office says that all Flager deputies now carry Narcan, an emergency opioid antagonist, to treat and reduce injuries and fatalities due to opioid-involved overdoses.
Narcan, or Naloxone, is a prescription medicine that reverses an opioid overdose by blocking opioids in the brain for 30 to 90-minutes.
Opioids that can be treated by Narcan administration include heroin, oxycodone, methadone, fentanyl, morphine, codeine, opium, hydrocodone, and name-brand drugs such as Percocet, Vicodin and Demerol.
The Naloxone Kit Grant was approved after the state of Florida saw an increase in opioid-related deaths.
"There has been great success throughout Florida with the use of Narcan in saving the lives of people who have overdosed,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “We must find a way to end the opioid deaths in our communities. Law enforcement is often the first to arrive on scene, so having our deputies equipped with this life saving medication is imperative.”
Police believe that having Narcan kits readily available will allow quicker administration in an emergency situation if a deputy is on scene before emergency medical personnel.