Title
Implementation of Narcan (Naloxone) Program in Police Department
History
The entire country has experienced a dramatic increase in the use of heroin and the resulting overdoses and deaths. According to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, heroin use has jumped 80%, and almost 3,000 people died of a heroin overdose in 2010.
On 2/11/14, an article in Reuters quoted the Obama administration urging more local police and fire departments to equip their officers with a medication used to revive people who have overdosed on heroin, citing a troubling increase in deaths from the drug. On 4/16/14, the United States Attorney General, in remarks prepared for the Police Executive Research Forum, called on first responders to train and equip their men and women on the front lines to use the overdose-reversal drug known as naloxone.
We are requesting that our police officers be trained and equipped with Narcan (Naloxone), which is a prescription medication that reverses opiate based drug overdoses. It cannot be used to get high and is not addictive.
An FAQ from the DuPage County Narcan program is attached, which answers most questions in regard to the program.
The use of NARCAN by our officers will complement our current program of education, prevention, enforcement and can save lives. The training and implementation of the program will be done under the auspice of the Chicago Recovery Alliance which was recommended to us by the Department of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse a Division of the Department of Human Services and the Cook County Department of Public Health.
This agenda item is being considered by the Public Safety Committee and the Village Board of Trustees on the same night. Village Board approval will be contingent upon receiving an approval recommendation at the Public Safety Committee meeting.
Financial Impact
The training and purchase of Narcan is not in our current budget. We request a budget adjustment of $1,500.00 to our training budget (line item 010-7002-4291000) to train our officers in the use of Narcan and a budget adjustment of $2,500.00 to our supplies budget (line item 010-7002-460-290) to pay for the Narcan.
Recommended Action/Motion
I move to approve authorizing the Police Department to implement a Narcan program;
And
Approve a budget adjustment in an amount not to exceed $4,000.