Tuesday, January 14, 2020 – ROME, GA – The Floyd County Police Department, Rome City Police Department, and Floyd County Sheriff’s Office received a generous donation of the opioid antidote naloxone today, courtesy of Floyd Against Drugs (FAD). This donation will equip officers to save lives and revive overdose victims who are unresponsive as a result of opioids. The gift from FAD is part of their work to fulfill a need in the local community. Thanks to fundraising from the annual murder mystery dinner hosted by FAD, 96 containers which contain two doses of naloxone each, were purchased at a cost of $7,200.
The opioid resistance drug is delivered by a nasal spray in a one-use dose. Floyd County Police Department received 32 containers (64 doses) of naloxone. More commonly known by its trade name Narcan, according to Narcan.com it is “the first and only FDA approved nasal form of naloxone for emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose.” Police officers are most often the first to arrive on scene for an unresponsive person and having an easy to use antidote will save lives.
“Police officers are on the front line of interaction,” said Ansley Silvers, president of the advisory board of FAD. “This is not treatment. It’s saving a life. FAD wants to make sure our law enforcement is protected during this crisis and equipped to protect and assist the citizens of Floyd County.”
Chief Mark Wallace said that it’s not uncommon for officers to administer more than one dose of Narcan when they encounter an unresponsive person at an emergency scene. “This is a tremendous gift that is very needful and appreciated during this time in the opioid crisis,” he said. “It’s an issue that impacts all levels of society and we’re glad to be a little better prepared to help our community thanks to FAD.”
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