Opioid reversal drugs being used as precaution at crash scenes

The nation’s heroin epidemic is changing how emergency workers respond to traffic accidents.

Opioid reversal drugs, like Narcan, are being used by some first responders at crash scenes, even if they aren’t sure that they’re needed. The drugs are being given to anyone who is impaired or unresponsive as a precaution.

“Almost any time now, if the patient’s not awake, this is one of the first things we have to ask ourselves: Is it related to a drug overdose?” Kevin Fields, a paramedic, said. “Sometimes they're slumped head down on the steering wheel. Sometimes they're slumped over sideways.”