The following information comes from Lt. Joseph Friel of the Evesham Township Police Department:
As of July 16, Evesham Police Officers will have the ability to administer the drug Narcan to save lives from opiate overdoses.
With a substantial increase in drug overdose deaths afflicting New Jersey, the Evesham Police will now be equipped with Narcan kits, which contain a drug that can act quickly to reverse an opiate overdose.
This drug is administered as a nasal spray to victims to combat the immediate effects of an opiate-based overdose and to save lives. The program was approved for police officers in all 21 counties in New Jersey to be trained to administer Narcan. The initial issuance of the Narcan kits in Burlington County is being coordinated by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office.
All Evesham officers will complete the required training in administering the drug, which will be carried in all first aid response kits. Although the obvious aim of the police department is to eradicate the township of illegal narcotics, our primary objective is always to save lives.
Narcan is naloxone’s brand name. Medical technicians have used naloxone to combat overdoses for years. Available by prescription, it is not a controlled substance.
In addition to this program, the State of New Jersey, in May of 2013, also approved the “Good Samaritan” bill. This bill provides immunity to 911 callers under most circumstances when they call to report that someone has overdosed so they will not fear being arrested for drug possession. Anyone who observes someone they believe is suffering from an overdose is required to dial 911 and report it immediately.
