In 2008, there were six overdose deaths related to heroin use in Hennepin County (MN); four years later, that number had climbed to 56. The community knew that something needed to be done to address the epidemic. Just over a year ago, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office enacted a law to become the first law enforcement agency in Minnesota to have its deputies carry the drug naloxone, which can reverse the fatal overdose effects of heroin. Since enacting the law, at least a half dozen Hennepin County-area law enforcement agencies have agreed to use the drug.
This week, the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) and Purdue Pharma announced a $350,000 grant to train officers in how to use naloxone.
“As first responders and leaders within our community, we must equip law enforcement with all the tools necessary to combat this epidemic,” said National Sheriffs’ Association Executive Director Jonathan Thompson.
A related resource is the DOJ Law Enforcement Naloxone Toolkit, which provides law enforcement with the knowledge and the tools to reverse heroin overdoses. Check out the toolkit today – it has recently been updated with new resources that can be used in response to the growing opioid epidemic.
View the full article on the NSA pilot program.
Explore the Law Enforcement Naloxone Toolkit.