Police department receives donation of naloxone kits
Texarkana, Arkansas, police have received a donation of 48 naloxone kits from the Criminal Justice Institute.
Funding from the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas allowed the donation, given to the department by Director Cheryl P. May.
Naloxone, often referred to by its trade name Narcan, is a competitive antagonist of an opioid receptor.
This receptor is responsible for the pain-relieving effect of opioids but when overly activated can lead to a life-threatening decrease in respiratory rate.
Naloxone has been around since the 1970s and has been used as a treatment of opioid overdose since then.
In the hospital, naloxone is typically given by an intramuscular shot or IV line, but the medication is also conveniently absorbed into the blood if given in the nose.
Emergency medical technicians began using nasal naloxone through the IV formulation with an adapter that atomizes the medicine and allows it to be sprayed in the nose. Eventually, protocols to use naloxone spread to other first responders like police officers and firefighters, who are fre- quently the first to reach an overdose victim.
TAPD officers are all certified to carry the kits and use them, said Sgt. Kristi Bennett, department spokeswoman.
“Fortunately, we have never never needed to use them, but we could if we had to,” Bennett said.
The kits are very expensive and the donation is much appreciated, Bennett said.
“We have trained with the Criminal Institute and they provided these for free,” Bennett said.
Texarkana, Texas, police also carry similar kits provided by CHRISTUS St. Micheal, said TTPD Spokesman Shawn Vaughn.
The Criminal Justice Institute provides support to the Arkansas law enforcement community by offering:
■ specialized programs designed to enhance the job performance of law enforcement personnel;
■ opportunities to complete academic certificates and associate of applied science degrees in crime scene investigation and law enforcement administration;
■ online programs that allow officers to complete courses at their own pace within their home, department or community.