Kentuckiana Times

New Albany Police to Carry Live-Saving NARCAN

Mayor Jeff Gahan is proud to announce that all police officers will now be equipped with Naloxone (NARCAN), a life-saving medication that can quickly reverse an opioid overdose. Pictured together are NAPD Chief Todd Bailey, Hoosier Action Community Organizer Will Stauffer, Mayor Jeff Gahan, and Hoosier Action Executive Director Kate Hess Pace.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl overdose is the number 1 cause of death for people aged 18-45.

The New Albany Fire Department has been equipped with this life-saving medicine for some time. Additionally, all department heads within the city will be trained on its use. This move follows months of collaboration and partnership with Hoosier Action, local health officials, public safety officials, and addiction prevention specialists. To ensure that police officers and department heads are properly trained in the use of Naloxone, multiple training sessions will be conducted over the next several weeks.

Naloxone, also known as Narcan, has been proven to be highly effective in reversing opioid overdoses. The medication works by binding to the same receptors in the brain that opioids bind to, thus reversing the effects of the overdose.

"The health and safety of our residents is our top priority," said Mayor Jeff Gahan. "We believe that equipping our police officers with Naloxone is an important step in our ongoing efforts to combat the opioid epidemic in our community. With proper training, our officers will be able to quickly and effectively save lives in the event of an overdose. I want to thank Hoosier Action for their partnership and assistance on this initiative."

“We want to thank the City of New Albany, Mayor Jeff Gahan, and Chief Bailey for responding to residents’ concerns and making this policy change to save lives,” stated Kate Hess Pace, Executive Director of Hoosier Action. “Our members are excited to hear this news and it demonstrates that when we work together with the City on important issues we can save lives and make a difference.”

"As a police department, our mission is to protect and serve our community," said Police Chief Todd Bailey. "Carrying Naloxone gives us the ability to save lives in a matter of minutes, and we are committed to doing everything in our power to prevent opioid-related deaths in our city. This also helps protect our officers when they have to handle fentanyl-laced drugs, as even touching the substance can have detrimental health effects. Our officers will undergo extensive training to ensure that they are prepared to properly administer and carry Naloxone."

“The New Albany Fire Department has carried Narcan for some time, and many lives have been saved because of its use,” stated Fire Chief Matt Juliot. “Now, over the next several weeks, we will be training even more staff in its use to help prevent the loss of life in New Albany.”

The City of New Albany is dedicated to ensuring that its residents are safe and healthy, and is proud to be taking this proactive step in the fight against opioid addiction.

Original source can be found here.