East End officers to carry heroin overdose remedy
Police officers in three local departments are among the newest officers to be equipped with naloxone, a lifesaving heroin overdose drug.
The Riverhead, Southold and Southampton police departments have been approved for the Community Overdose Prevention (COP) Program, which supplies funding to equip officers with naloxone, an antidote that can instantly reverse the effects of a heroin overdose.
The program is funded through the state Attorney General’s Office, which has approved funding to equip almost half of the state’s police with the drug.
Each kit consists of a pouch containing two prefilled syringes of naloxone and two atomizers to administer it through the nose, as well as gloves and an instruction booklet. Each kit costs about $60 and has a shelf life of approximately two years, according to a press release.
Long Island has received the second largest number of naloxone kit reimbursements in the state, trailing only New York City.
“By providing police officers with naloxone, we are making this life-saving overdose antidote available in every town, village and hamlet on Long Island,” said Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
Prior to the program, ambulance personnel were the only responders equipped with the drug.
