Equipping Law Enforcement Officers with the Opioid Antagonist Naloxone
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Date
2019
Authors
Gilmore, Ginger
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT)
Abstract
Description
For the past several years, the nation has been under siege by an opioid crisis
that has led to many overdose deaths (O’Donnell et al., 2017). The most common
opioids being abused are prescription medications, heroin, and fentanyl. The opioid
abusers are not alone in their risk of overdose. Other household members, including
children, may accidentally be exposed to opioids present in their surroundings. Police
officers are also at high risk of exposure due to their frequent contact with drug users.
Exposure can occur through skin contact or by inhaling airborne powdered forms.
Naloxone is a drug that immediately reverses the effects of an opioid overdose and can
save lives in accidental overdose situations. Naloxone should be carried by all police
officers. It is now available as a nasal spray that is very simple to administer, even by
non-medical personnel. Legislation has been passed in Texas that permits law
enforcement agencies to partner with pharmacies to acquire and carry the medication
via a standing order. These partnerships, along with government or community grants,
can also help control the cost of equipping all officers with it. If law enforcement
officers, who are often the first responders to an overdose situation, are routinely
equipped with naloxone, lives can be saved. The life may be a drug abuser who now
has another chance, or that of a police officer who has been exposed to opioids while
coming to an abuser’s aid.
Keywords
Opioids--Overdose--Treatment--United States, Police Training