Ohio deputies, COs equipped with Narcan

The sheriff’s office had Narcan for years, but it was only available to jail nurses so they could administer it

December 29, 2015 01:09 PM

By Cary Ashby
Norwalk Reflector

NORWALK, Ohio — Each cruiser will be equipped with Narcan and a nose applicator, which also will be available to corrections officers in the jail. Each cruiser will have two Narcan sets. Maj. Mike Cooksey said the sheriff’s office had Narcan for years, but it was only available to jail nurses so they could administer it.

“Narcan neutralizes the effects of opiates in the body,” Sheriff Dane Howard said. “When there’s an overdose, it brings them back to life depending on the time frame. If it’s gone on too far, it has no effect.

”As the minutes go by, the chance to save them is less and less. What’s vital is we apply it as soon as we can,” the sheriff added.

In his seven years in office, Howard said he could only recall one occasion deputies had to administer it.

“But there were several times in the field it would have been appropriate to apply it,” he added. “Many times the deputies get there before the ambulance.”

The decision to have Narcan, formally known as Naloxone, came after several months of research and preparation. Dr. Christine Canfield, who is contracted to be the jail doctor, looked into the side effects and complications of applying Narcan. She will train deputies and corrections officers before they use it.

“It’s been discussed for quite a while. We didn’t have the funding,” Howard said.

The initial start-up cost of $1,200 comes from the budget line item for the jail. The sheriff’s office will replace the nose applicators upon each use.

“We can apply it if the person is unconscious,” Howard said.

According to sheriff’s officials, some of the deputies have questioned or even opposed using Narcan on overdose victims. But Howard and Chief Deputy Ted Patrick said the decision to use it isn’t about opinions on lifestyle choices, but saving lives.

Howard said he expects the costs down the road to be minimal.

“It’s something we definitely want to move forward on,” the sheriff said. “There are too many young people addicted to heroin. If it saves one life, it’s worth it.”