The Oklahoma City Police Department used Narcan 135 instances this 12 months to revive individuals from opioid overdoses, a considerable enhance in comparison with only a few years in the past.
OKCPD mentioned the division started utilizing Narcan in 2015 via a partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. During that first 12 months, officers used Narcan twice on individuals who overdosed.m Then in 2016, officers used Narcan 14 instances, adopted by 13 in 2017, 26 in 2018, 35 in 2019, 32 in 2020, 73 in 2021, and 135 in 2022.
“Numerous lives have been saved by the usage of this Narcan and so, it’s been proven to work for us in just a matter of moments,” mentioned Sgt. Dillon Quirk, assistant public information officer with OKCPD.
The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office recently released a body cam video exhibiting how efficient Narcan is at reviving somebody after spraying the remedy into the nostril. The individual within the video overdosed on fentanyl, which has turn out to be extra prevalent within the space in recent times. The Sheriff’s Office mentioned in 2020, deputies seized 3 kilos of the artificial opioid. But this 12 months, they’ve already seized 29 kilos.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mentioned in 2020, Oklahoma saw 762 overdose deaths. Last 12 months, there were an estimated 107,622 overdose deaths across the U.S., a rise of 15% from the 12 months earlier than, the CDC mentioned. To assist reverse that pattern, Oklahoma City officers have Narcan of their patrol cruisers.
“We’ve become more comfortable in using it when we arrive on scene,” mentioned Quirk. “I don’t know if surprised (at the increase in Narcan use) is the word. But it’s definitely nice to know that numerous lives have been saved simply by our officers being able to utilize this medication.”
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