Ill. Officials: Narcan Essential in Fighting Opioid Epidemic
June 08--BLOOMINGTON -- Drugs now kill more people in Illinois than automobile accidents, according to statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Through the first five months of the year, the McLean County coroner's office has attributed nine of 18 accidental deaths to overdoses of opioids, or a toxic combinations of drugs. Two of those deaths were directly related to heroin.
But those numbers might be higher if it weren't for an opioid antidote that first responders in the state of Illinois are now required to carry.
Naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, is a prescription medicine that blocks the effects of opioids and reverses an overdose. When a person is overdosing, breathing can slow down or stop and it can be difficult to wake them up.
"With the recent rise in opioid-related deaths in Illinois, Narcan has become an important tool for members of law enforcement to use on the front lines," said Walt Howe, director of the McLean County Health Department. "It has been proven to be successful in saving lives, thus providing overdose victims a second chance to seek treatment for their addiction."
Narcan has been legal for nonmedical personnel to use in Illinois since 2009 when the Overdose Prevention Act was signed into law. It is safe, as nontoxic as water and has no potential for addiction.
It costs between $20 and $40 for a kit that includes everything a person would need to reverse an overdose. Narcan cannot be used to get a person high and if given to someone who has not taken an opioid, it will not have any effect.
Although the law for first responders to carry Narcan was passed in 2015, there remain some funding issues for several local police and fire departments to obtain an adequate supply.
The McLean County Health Department is providing funding for a one-year supply -- about 24 doses -- of Narcan to the McLean County Sheriff's Department at a cost of $1,000.
Still, it's important that each squad car carry a dose, say officials.
"Time is of the essence in overdose situations and the sooner we can attempt to counteract the effects of an opioid overdose, the better chance we have of saving a life," said McLean County Sheriff Jon Sandage.
In order for Narcan to be effective, first responders need to arrive within the first five to six minutes of the patient going down, said LeRoy Police Chief Jason Williamson.
"Because we are in a small town, we can usually get to a call within three or four minutes," he said. "But it's necessary because nationwide, there is an epidemic of heroin and opioid overdose deaths. Surrounding counties have seen a sharp increase in overdose deaths. We have to be ready."
Like many rural police departments, all LeRoy police officers have received training on how to administer Narcan.
The process is simple, said Bloomington Police dispatcher Tiffany Koehne. When finding a person has overdosed, a trained officer will assemble an applicator, and place the Narcan into a needleless syringe.
"You will tilt the head back and spray half of it up one nostril and then the other half up the other nostril," she said. "It's kind of a mist. One dose isn't always enough, but it should be enough to get the process started until more help can arrive."
Kathy Davis, who worked as a nurse practitioner before becoming McLean County coroner, said she reminds emergency responders that Narcan is only effective for overdoses involving opioids.
"You can't assume Narcan will save someone if they've taken a mixture of drugs or drugs and alcohol," said Davis.
Bloomington Police detective Kevin Raisbeck said it's often the case that people have no idea what they are actually injecting.
"People are shooting a drug into their arm and they really have no idea what is in it and what it is being cut with," he said. "If it's a pure batch, that's when we start seeing more overdoses because heroin users are used to using an amount they are comfortable with. But if they get a different batch, and they use more, they could be in danger."
Another law that went into effect to help save the lives of overdose victims was the 2012 Good Samaritan Overdose law. If someone thinks they are witnessing a drug overdose and seek medical help for that person, they will receive immunity from criminal charges for drug possession. The overdose victim being helped is protected as well.
"We need to make people aware of this law," said Clinton resident Stephanie Pollock, who lost her boyfriend to an overdose in 2008. "People are more scared about getting into trouble than saving someone's life and we have to change that.
"I don't want anyone to use, but heroin and opioids are so addictive that we also have to convince people that if you are going to use, please, never use alone," she said. "Take turns and watch for signs with each other and have Narcan available. Call 911 as soon as someone starts having trouble."
Follow Kevin Barlow on Twitter: @pg_barlow.
Copyright 2016 - The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill.
