How a Police Department Uses Naloxone to Save Lives and Support Recovery
In Anne Arundel County, Maryland, police officers are equipped to help people experiencing overdose because the officers carry naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal drug.
In September 2015, police officer Shawn Kauffman administered Narcan—a brand name of naloxone—five to six times a day.
Today, his ability to respond in a crisis saves lives. But it also gives him and other officers an opportunity to connect community members to treatment and support them on their recovery journey.
States can help other law enforcement officers do the same by allowing them to carry, distribute, and administer naloxone.
Narcan is a brand-name naloxone product carried by Anne Arundel County law enforcement. Other naloxone products approved by the Food and Drug Administration also are effective at reversing opioid overdoses. For information on where to get naloxone, contact your health department, health care provider, or pharmacy.