Cranston Cops will Carry Narcan to Save Overdose Victims

Cranston police officers have been trained and will be carrying the lifesaving drug naloxone in an effort to combat the ongoing epidemic of opiate overdoses, which claims the lives of 17,000 Americans each year.

Unintended drug overdose deaths now outnumber car crashes as the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, driven largely by prescription opioids and the incredible power of addiction.

Cranston Police Chief Col. Michael J. Winquist said that all patrol officers have been issued the lifesaving drug and the effort comes at no cost thanks to a donation from kaléo, A Richmond, Virginia-based pharmaceutical company.

“The rising number of overdose deaths from opioid-based prescription drugs and heroin is one of the top concerns for our community,” said Colonel Winquist. “This new product delivers a potentially life-saving dose of naloxone via a simple to use auto-injector system that is easy for our Officers to carry and administer to someone experiencing an opioid overdose. With this donation, we will have an opportunity to make a real difference in the fight against unintentional drug poisoning and overdose.”

Often, it is the police who arrive at the scene of a suspected overdose first. And every second counts. The difference between life and death can be a matter of just a few moments and equipping officers means more lives will be saved.

Last year, 12 overdose deaths occurred in Cranston. There were 233 deaths attributed to accidental overdoses in Rhode Island overall.

“We are pleased to be making this donation as a part of our commitment to widen access to naloxone,” said T. Spencer Williamson, CEO of kaléo. “We are honored to support the outstanding efforts of the law enforcement community to help save the lives of those who are experiencing an opioid overdose, even through no fault of their own.”

Officers completed a 30-minute training session conducted by the department’s training vision before being issued two pre-filled, single-use hand-held auto-injectors of naloxone, commonly referred to as narcan.

The injectors enable officers to quickly provide an injection to block the effect of an opioid and potentially reverse the life-threatening symptoms, which include a person’s breathing slowing down and stopping.

Cranston Mayor Allan W. Fung said kaléo deserves thanks for donating the drugs.

He said the donation and training “will ensure that the Cranston Police Department is ready to face this overdose epidemic head on.”

Cranston joins Providence and state police by equipping its officers with the lifesaving drug. CVS has also pledge to offer narcan without a prescription at its stores by August.