Pennsylvania Makes $5 Million Push To Get Narcan In Hands Of First Responders

HARRISBURG, PA — The state is offering first responders $5 million to ensure they have naloxone, also known as Narcan, available to aid overdose victims.

Money for the drug administered to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose was included in the 2017-18 budget. More than 60,000 Naloxone kits, which include two, 4-milligram doses in each, will be available to all 67 counties over a two-year period, according to an announcement from the governor's office.

The kits are now available through an application process. The deadline for submissions is Nov. 6, 2017.

Since April, nearly 4,000 lives have been saved with naloxone, Pennsylvania officials said.

“Naloxone, a life-saving medication, is making a difference in the heroin and opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania and why I included funding for it in my 2017-18 budget,” Governor Tom Wolf said. “This program will create a fast, efficient means of getting these life-saving kits in the hands of first responders; those people on the front line of the epidemic, and responsible not only for saving lives, but getting people into treatment via the warm handoff program, and ultimately into recovery.”

One main point-of-contact for each county or region will be identified to coordinate the process of getting the kits into the hands of first responders. That point-of-contact will be responsible for identifying first responder needs for naloxone within that county or region, the governor's office said.

First responders interested in the program can learn more by clicking here.

Patch file photo