February 19, 2015
As deaths related to opioid overdoses rise nationwide, police have increasingly been required to carry naloxone to help rescue unresponsive people in emergency situations.
A state law passed last fall allows police officers in Pennsylvania to administer the drug; previously, only doctors and paramedics were permitted to do so. Naloxone works specifically to reverse the effects of opioids - both heroin and prescription medications like oxycodone - and can be administered via a nasal spray.
Philadelphia has already trained 104 officers in its use, with plans to train the East Division's 500 officers over the next several months.
At a news conference Thusrday, Deputy Commissioner Christine Coulter indicated the department aims to eventually have all officers carry the antidote.
Thus far, three weeks after the department began issuing naloxone to East Division officers, the drug has already been deployed five times.
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