Union County Hospitals Restock Narcan Supplies For Police

UNION COUNTY, NJ — A group of Union County hospitals are restocking supplies of Naloxone (also known by its brand name, Narcan) for all law enforcement agencies countywide free of charge.

The medication is used to reverse the effects of otherwise potentially fatal drug overdoses.

“Narcan can provide our first responders with a window of opportunity that can save a life,” Trinitas Regional Medical Center President & CEO Gary S. Horan said. “It is beyond question that together we will save lives right here in Union County.”

Atlantic Health System, which includes Overlook Medical Center in Summit, plus Robert Wood Johnson-Rahway and Trinitas, in Elizabeth, all recently signed memorandums of understanding with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office pledging to provide new naloxone supplies on a quarterly, on-demand basis, with quantities dependent on how many departments need to replace used or expired stock.

Narcan was used a combined total of 62 times in 2015 by police in Union County and 128 times in 2016 through Oct. 27 — with all but four of the 128 recipients having survived.

A total of 231 people have suffered fatal drug overdoses in Union County since 2011, according to statistics kept by the Prosecutor’s Office’s Intelligence Unit. That figure includes 34 victims to date in 2016.

“This is a testament to the fact that when it comes to the fight against prescription drug and opioid abuse, we’re all in this together," said acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park.

The memorandums of understanding are valid for a period of two years and can be renewed. The Prosecutor’s Office and members of the administrative teams at the three hospitals also agreed to meet semi-annually to review the rate of police-administered use of naloxone in Union County and to adjust distribution accordingly.

“It is unfortunate in the current social climate that no community is immune from the effects of opioid abuse and addiction,” said Garwood Police Chief Bruce Underhill, Second Vice President of the Association. “Happily, this program provides a fighting chance to an overdose victim for both survival and then recovery."

(Image provided: From left - Union County Police Chiefs Association President and Rahway Police Chief John Rodger, Chiefs Association Second Vice President and Garwood Police Chief Bruce Underhill, Union County Prosecutor's Office acting Chief of Detectives John G. McCabe Jr., Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway President & CEO Kirk C. Tice, Trinitas Regional Medical Center President & CEO Gary S. Horan, Atlantic Health System Director of Protection and Security Services/Emergency Management Alan J. Robinson, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park, Atlantic Health System Manager of Protection and Security Services/Emergency Management John Van Dright, and Union County Sheriff Joseph P. Cryan meet at the Ralph Froehlich Union County Public Safety Building in Westfield to mark the launch of the Union County Narcan Assistance Program on Nov. 7.)

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