The Scott County Sheriff’s Office has joined other agencies across the country in equipping deputies with the lifesaving antidote Naloxone to combat opioid overdoses.
Scott County Sheriff’s Deputies recently received training through North Memorial Health Care on how to administer Naloxone, also known as Narcan, to patients that are suffering from an opioid overdose. All deputies working in a patrol capacity will be equipped with Narcan on a 24/7 basis, with the antidote also being readily available at the Courthouse and County Jail.
Funding to purchase the Narcan medication was provided through a grant that was dispersed by the Metropolitan Emergency Service Board to help combat drug overdoses in the State of Minnesota.
“While we know that illegal drug is a crime, we also realize that opioid users are in the grip of a terrible addiction that doesn’t deserve a death penalty. We want to help people get the help they need and find a better path forward, which obviously can’t happen if they’ve fatally overdosed. This antidote gives us another way to help save lives,” said Scott County Sheriff Luke Hennen. “And by doing so, we keep hope alive that users can break free of addiction.”