Narcan, a drug that rapidly reverses heroin and other opioid overdoses, is now going to be used to save lives in Kosciusko County. The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department has just finished training and issuing Naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan, to its deputies. KCSD has partnered with Lutheran EMS to properly train its deputies on how to recognize the symptoms of heroin or other opiate overdoes and how to effectively administer Naloxone. Naloxone is administered via nasal spray, potentially reversing an overdose before it results in a fatality. Nasal Naloxone is effective against heroin, but also against other opiates like Fentanyl, oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet) and hydrocodone (Vicodin). Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine wants to provide his deputies with the tools necessary to save a life if they respond to or come upon an overdose victim before paramedics arrive. In recent years, Kosciusko County has seen an increase in heroin and prescription pill overdoses. It is hoped that this, along with strong enforcement and education of current drug laws, will begin to save some of these lives. Heroin is often used as a cheaper alternative to meth and has been linked to HIV outbreaks in Indiana. There have been at least six deaths by heroin overdoes this year in Warsaw alone, according to Kosciusko County Drug Task Force. Sheriff Rovenstine would also like to remind citizens that the most important thing for people to remember is they must call 911 as soon as possible for the use of Naloxone to be effective. Do not waste time trying to remove or hide the fact that the person used drugs, but reach out for help as quickly as possible. Those few minutes could be the difference between life and death.
