Newton Police, Fire, to Now Carry Narcan

NEWTON, MA -- Newton’s first responders will now all be equipped with the life-saving drug narcan, which is commonly used to reverse an opioid overdose.

This agreement between the city and the fire and police department unions covers issues of training, administration, storage, and other related items for the use of Narcan. Plans are already in place to begin training and equip first responders with Narcan.

“Narcan is one important component of a comprehensive approach to the opioid epidemic here in Newton and elsewhere,” Mayor Setti Warren said in a statement. “But it is only one piece of our multi-faceted approach which includes prevention, education, access to treatment programs for addicts, and life-long post intervention programs once an addict is in recovery. Our Opioid Working Group is developing short- and longer term approaches to each of these critical areas of need.”

“I am pleased that we are able to provide this life-saving tool to our fire personnel to better equip them in handling drug overdose emergencies,” Fire Chief Bruce Proia said in the release. “I am extremely proud of all of the work that our fire personnel do for the City of Newton every day.”

“Narcan will give our public safety team here in Newton the ability to save lives and give people another chance,” said Chief of Police David MacDonald. “Our men and women will have this tool while we continue to work with other disciplines in the fight against opiate addiction. We are proud to be a part of this battle.”