Narcan Becoming Costly Solution to Heroin Overdoses in Cape May County

For nearly a year, police departments across the state have been equipped with an antidote that reverses the effects of a heroin overdose.

Police departments across the state began using Naloxone/Narcan, a heroin antidote previously only available to hospital staff, after legislators passed the Opioid Antidote and Overdose Prevention Act in 2013. The antidote reverses the effect of a heroin overdose.

The results have been favorable, but they’re coming at a cost.

Initially, counties purchased the antidote through their police chiefs associations, with the departments handling the resupply through either forfeiture funds or their individual operating budgets. Increasing costs are beginning to present a problem.

Police officers throughout Gloucester County have used Narcan to save 41 lives since September, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office.

But the cost has doubled since the start of the program, with a two-dose package now coming at $100 apiece.

As of April 1, Cape May County has had 28 overdoses, including four fatalities, according to the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office. There have been 14 Naloxone deployments since the beginning of the year.

In 2014 there were 121 overdoses, with 20 fatalities. It was deployed 13 times beginning in June of 2014.

However, the cost was $18 a unit when the program began, and the cost has increased to $35 for the antidote, according to Cape May County Chief of Investigations Paul Skill.

Ocean City Police were given six kits, and purchased an additional four in advance of the summer. The fire department also carries the antidote.

According to Ocean City Police Capt. Steve Ang, families of drug addicts can get kits for free from a clinic/training program in Atlantic City, and they can be replaced for free, but families must call 9-1-1 if they use their kit.

Since July of 2014 in Burlington County, there have been 49 instances in which police have used Narcan, and 46 were successful. Of the 49 incidents, 40 were for heroin overdoses.

The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office purchased 209 doses that were distributed to municipal police departments and the Sheriff’s Department at a cost of $6,554.24. It also funded training at a cost of $750.

The initial cost was $17.99 a unit, and it is now $34.90 per unit, according to Palmyra Police Chief Scott Pearlman, the current head of the Burlington County Chiefs of Police Association.

The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office began training 40 officers from departments across the county on how to administer the antidote in September.

Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph L. Bocchini Jr. distributed 600 kits to police departments in the county in October, and officers began using the kits on Nov. 1.

Since then, the antidote has been deployed 24 times, with just one fatality.

Cost for the antidote has doubled, from $17.50 to $34.

Earlier this week, Gloucester County Prosecutor Sean F. Dalton announced a deal in which Inspira Health Network in Woodbury and Kennedy Health in Washington Township will resupply police departments with Narcan on a quarterly basis.

Ocean County already works with three hospitals that supply police officers with replacement Narcan, and it’s a model the other counties are considering.

The Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office continues to use forfeiture funds to cover costs, and is in the beginning phases of speaking with local hospitals about helping to cover costs.

In Burlington County, Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi and the Burlington County Chiefs of Police Association are working together on a proposal to submit to local hospitals requesting that they absorb the cost of replacing Narcan kits that have been used by municipal police departments, according to spokesperson Joel Bewley.

“We’re looking for alternatives, but we’re just getting started,” Pearlman said. “There’s no solution yet.”

Mercer County plans to continue using forfeiture funds to to cover costs, but envisions similar discussions with hospitals and organizations about partnership, Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson Casey DeBlasio said.

When Pine Hill Police Chief Chris Winters was looking into the acquisition of the antidote for Camden County, he received quotes from several companies. Initially, the antidote was purchased for $17.55 per unit. The first refill order came to about $22 per unit. In December, that cost increased to about $60 per unit.

Winters surveyed the landscape again, and saw costs had increased everywhere.

Camden County is beginning to explore other avenues for covering costs, including the possibility of consulting local hospitals.

“Our budget’s not going to increase to cover the cost,” Winters said. “The money’s going to have to come from somewhere.”

He said the antidote is a “tremendous tool to have” and “we’re not going to go without it.”