Milton Police Department officers have recently begun carrying a drug that can help reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
On-duty officers officially started carrying Narcan (Naloxone) — an opioid antagonist administered using a a nasal injector — in November, according to a Tuesday release.
To combat accidental drug overdose — a nationwide epidemic — Milton police officers were given special training on the deployment of Narcan. Police officers are certified first responders and often the first to arrive on scene.
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Milton City Manager Steven Krokoff said the moments prior to EMS arrival can be the most critical to survival in overdose cases.
"It can literally mean the difference between life and death," Krokoff said in the release.
Georgia enacted House Bill 965, also called the "911 Medical Amnesty Law," in 2014 to grant immuntiy to some people who call seeking medical help if they overdose on a drug.
Georgia Overdose Prevention, a nonprofit organization consisting of parents, healthcare professionals and advocates who have experienced loss due to an accidental drug overdose, assisted with equipping officers with Narcan.
"Our hope is that officers won't have to use it, but we want to ensure our public safety staff have all the available resources to assist a citizen in need and possibly save a life," said Milton Mayor Joe Lockwood in the release.
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