Sheriffs Release Report on Naloxone Rescue Drug Pilot Project

More than 120 Lives Saved, 600 Personnel Trained to Combat Opioid Epidemic

(Alexandria, VA) - Today the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) released the results of a pilot program undertaken along with Purdue Pharma L.P. to provide greater access and training for the rescue drug naloxone, which revives a person during an opioid overdose.

The program, started in Nov. 2015, has trained more than 600 deputies and officers to administer naloxone and has distributed kits to a dozen law enforcement agencies and offices. The effort has saved more than 120 lives.

“As more details on the use of the naloxone distributed by NSA are accumulated, the number of lives saved will continue to climb as law enforcement deploys these important tools to mitigate opioid overdose deaths,” NSA CEO and Executive Director Jonathan Thompson said. “At a time when the opioid epidemic has risen to crisis levels, the federal government has done little to help citizens deal with this blight. NSA will continue training law enforcement on the use and distribution of naloxone. The private sector is stepping up. Federal, state and local governments must act now to develop and implement solutions.” 

NSA has distributed naloxone kits (500, 2-dose) to 12 local law enforcement agencies in eight states: Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia.

NSA has conducted local, on-site trainings or technical assistance to nine law enforcement agencies in 6 states – Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky –reaching more than 604 deputies and officers with the on-site training.

The Report is attached and available at:  www.sheriffs.org/NarcanReport

About NSA
The National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) is one of the largest associations of law enforcement professionals in the United States, representing more than 3,000 elected sheriffs across the nation, and a total membership of more than 20,000. NSA is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising the level of professionalism among sheriffs, their deputies, and others in the field of criminal justice and public safety. Throughout its seventy-six year history, NSA has served as an information clearinghouse for sheriffs, deputies, chiefs of police, other law enforcement professionals, state governments and the federal government.

Contact: 
Pat Royal
patrickroyal@sheriffs.org
703-838-5341