photo: By Intropin via Wikimedia Commons
Wilton Police Department officers are now carrying Naloxone, commonly known as “Narcan.” Narcan is an opiate antagonist that is administered in the event of an opiate overdose. Wilton officers have been trained in the use of Narcan and will be carrying it while on duty.
Opiates are drugs that are relatives of opium, such as morphine, codeine, heroin, Oxycontin, and Fentanyl. These drugs have been linked to deaths in Connecticut by slowing the victim’s breathing and making them unresponsive. Wilton officers are certified as Emergency Medical Responders and, in addition to Narcan, each patrol car also has a defibrillator and a fully stocked medical bag with oxygen.
Capt. John Lynch says while his officers haven’t yet used it, there were calls in the past where if Wilton officers had had access to Narcan, they could have. He notes the increase in dangerous drug mixtures and the rising incidence of overdose are both reasons that it’s a good thing for officers to have the medication on hand. But, he adds, there are other reasons for the department to add Narcan to their tool kit, including for the protection of the officers as well.
“We also carry two doses for the K-9 since he will be conducting drug sniffs. There is also a concern that an officer may come in contact with a narcotic and be exposed. There was a recent case where a swat team was exposed to a vaporized narcotic and another case where an officer was exposed and Narcan was used,” he explains.
