Rochester PD will soon carry heroin OD antidote

Narcan has the potential to reverse deadly effects of heroin overdose. (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - Rochester Police will soon be able to administer the life-saving drug Narcan to heroin overdose victims.

The department is already in the early stages of partnering with Frisbie Memorial Hospital to be supplied with Narcan and arrange for training of officers in administering the drug, said Rochester Police Capt. Gary Boudreau.

Narcan, the trade name for the drug Naloxone, is a medication used to counter the effects of opioid overdose. It will usually reverse the depression of the central nervous system, respiratory system, and hypotension. If given in time it can literally save a life.

Through development, it can now be administered with a simple nasal spray.

An emergency rules change made in January and approved by Gov. Maggie Hassan reduces the number of training house necessary for police officers to be certified, from 100 to about eight.

Boudreau said all the officers would need would be an additional eight hours of advanced CPR and first aid training as all Rochester officers already have basic CPR and first aid training.

Rochester firefighters and Frisbie paramedics already carry the drug, but the addition of officers is significant as they are often first on scene in any emergency response.

Narcan has been used by Rochester first responder several times in the past few months to save heroin overdose victims.