Just the facts: Fentanyl and Narcan
WHAT IS NARCAN?
Narcan Nasal Spray is the first and only FDA-approved nasal form of naloxone for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose, according to narcan.com. Narcan counteracts the life-threatening effects of an opioid overdose. Since most accidental overdoses occur in a home setting, it was developed for first responders, as well as family, friends, and caregivers — with no medical training required, according to the drugmaker. Narcan is designed to be easy to use without medical training, available at pharmacies without a prescription from a doctor, and covered by most major insurance plans.
HOW WIDELY AVAILABLE IS NARCAN?
BATTALION CHIEF DANIEL OTT OF THE YUMA FIRE DEPARTMENT EMS DIVISION: All EMS/fire agencies carry Narcan on them, and I know that the Yuma Police Department also carries it. I’m not sure if 100% of their officers carry them, but they did go through the training, and I believe a majority of the police officers do carry it. As far as the Sheriff’s Department, I am not sure if they went through the training to give Narcan (Yuma County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to this question). I have been told that some physicians give out Narcan to family members of patients that are on opioids. I know we have had at least one instance in the past where a bystander has given Narcan to a known opioid user.
SGT. LORI FRANKLIN, YUMA POLICE DEPARTMENT: For YPD, all of our patrol is trained and carry it. Most of our detectives, public safety technicians and maintenance personnel are also trained and carry it.
HOW OFTEN IS NARCAN USED IN YUMA COUNTY?
OTT: As far as the Yuma Fire Department, we have reported on 94 potential opioid overdoses this year. I don’t have accurate data to give you a true number for the whole county. Each agency throughout the state is required to report on any suspected opioid abuse calls and those numbers are kept with the Department of Health Services. What I can’t tell you, though, is what kind of opioid overdoses those were. Some are related to pain medications people might be taking. Some might be heroin overdoses. The only way we really know on our end if it is a true fentanyl overdose is if the patient tells us or a bystander tells us.