Caldwell Police Department Carrying a Powerful Weapon Against Heroin Overdoses

(CALDWELL, NJ)- Caldwell Police officers have started carrying Narcan kits, in response to a new initiative set forth by Essex County to control the state’s growing heroin problem.

Caldwell Police Chief James Bongiorno announced at the town council meeting Tuesday night his officers have started carrying the drug Narcan, an opiate blocking drug used to treat heroin overdoses.

“It’s just another tool to help first responders save lives,” said Caldwell Police Chief James H. Bongiorno.

The action comes from a new initiative in Essex County to distribute the kits to all 27 Essex County municipalities. 250 kits have been distributed countywide.

According to The Lennard Clinic, the five counties with the highest numbers of drug overdose deaths are Camden, Essex, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean; with Essex County reporting the 2nd highest number of overdose deaths in 2009.

Narcan is a federally approved drug with no euphoric properties and minimal side effects. The drug can be administered through a nasal spray device or intramuscularly through the thigh, leg or buttocks. Narcan starts working within five minutes of being administered and can be repeated if necessary.

Once Narcan is in the body, it is able to block opiate receptors in the brain, allowing more time for medical help to arrive. After approximately 30 minutes, the effects start to wear off.

If the patient has been administered Narcan but has not overdosed, the patient will not be harmed.

Essex County first responders are carrying the nasal spray device in their kits. Once they have used the spray, they must replenish the kit.

While Bongiorno hopes his officers will not have to use the kits, he said, “Unfortunately, law enforcement communities have battled with heroin addiction, so this is just another tool for our officers to use in response to help save lives.”

Photo Credit/ Michael Ein/The Press of Atlantic City