The Kendall County Sheriff’s Department is the first law enforcement agency in the county to begin using Narcan in the field.
As of Monday, all deputies had received training on how to administer the potentially life-saving drug, and will begin carrying the medication with them while on duty.
According to Sheriff Dwight Baird, deputies have been certified to administer Intranasal Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan. Narcan is given to help reverse the effects of opioids such as heroin, methadone, and oxycodone. Deputies can administer the nasal spray to potentially overdosing victims in order to stabilize them until paramedics arrive.
The deputies’ training consisted of a review of drug use and overdose trends, signs and symptoms of opioid overdose and withdrawal, and a demonstration on how to administer intranasal naloxone.
“The deputies are out on patrol and sometimes respond quicker than (paramedics) just by being in the area. We felt equipping the deputies with some life-saving options for these overdose situations is good public safety practice,” Baird said.