Anti-Overdose Nasal Spray Helps Save 9 Lives From Drug Deaths In 2 Weeks
MOUNT CLEMENS (WWJ) - Remember that scene from "Pulp Fiction" where the massive needle full of adrenaline is injected straight to Uma Thurman's heart to save her life?
Now there's a new tool to combat deaths from drug overdoses. And police say it's paying off, though there's still much work to be done in the battle against drugs.
Between January 20 and February 4, the Macomb County Sheriff's Office responded to at least 10 incidents where people have overdosed. Of the overdose calls, there were nine instances where the opiod-antagonist medication Naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan, was administered and people were revived. In one instance, the person could not be saved.
Narcan was approved by the FDA just two months ago as an easier way to administer a life-saving drug for those who have overdosed on an opoiod.
"Our department has seen a surge, kind of an uptick in the numbers of narcotic overdoses, specifically heroin overdoses," Lt. John Michalke told WWJ's Laura Bonnell. "We've been seeing that our deputies have been responding to calls in the community and fortunately they're equipped with Naloxone."
Last May, law enforcement started an Opioid Overdose Prevention Program in hopes of cutting the number of drug-related deaths in the county. As part of the Program, Narcan kits were distributed and deputies were trained how to use them to save lives.
Since being issued the kits, deputies have administered Narcan in 26 instances. These interventions have resulted in 21 lives saved.
The Sheriff's office was the first police agency in Macomb County to begin issuing Narcan kits to its deputies and command officers. There are 138 deputies who are trained and equipped with the life-saving nasal spray.