Wakefield Cruisers Now Equipped With Narcan

Opioid addiction and overdoses are a major problem throughout the region, and the Wakefield Police Department is taking steps to better equip officers who respond to drug overdoses.

All Wakefield cruisers will now carry Nasal Naloxone, also known as Narcan, which can quickly reverse the effects of a potentially fatal heroin or painkiller.

“Police officers are public servants first, and Narcan will prepare our officers to face the opioid crisis head-on and prevent the tragic loss of life in our community,” said Police Chief Rick Smith. “Police officers are often the first emergency responder on scene of an overdose, and now they can make a real difference in these situations,”

Narcan reverses the effects of an overdose by displacing the drug from the receptors in the brain. It has minimal side effects, is not dangerous if administered to a person who is not overdosing, and it has no potential for abuse, according to police.

Narcan is effective against heroin, as well as other opiates such as Fentanyl, OxyContin, Percocet, and Vicodin.

Opioid overdose is one of the leading causes of death in the state, affecting all communities. Last year, former Governor Deval Patrick declared it a public health crisis.

Smith acknowledged and thanked Dr. Daniel Muse of Brockton Hospital for providing the medical control for the Narcan program.

All Wakefield police officers have been trained in the proper use and administration of Narcan, through a “train the trainer” program in conjunction with Dr. Muse and the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.

Chief Smith also praised the work of Deputy Chief Craig Calabrese for putting together a program customized to Wakefield and for completing the “train the trainer” program to teach other officers how to properly use Narcan.