Herion overdose drug, Narcan, accessible to law enforcement in York County

The problem is so severe that there is an entire task force dedicated to fighting it. However, while preventing the intake of the drug itself is, for now, largely out of the task force’s control, medical research and development has produced a product that can save victims from death by overdose: Narcan, also known as Naxolone. Narcan is classified as an opioid antagonist, meaning it works to reverse the effects of opioids that could potentially cause death. Narcan is believed to have saved thousands of lives since it became well-known to the general public in 1996. Due to the dramatic rise of heroin deaths in York County, the district attorney’s office was authorized to distribute Narcan to law enforcement officers. The drug, which was issued in a kit to local police officers earlier this year, has saved 26 lives since December of 2014, which spurred the purchase of Narcan by local pharmacies as well. Because of this, Narcan is now sold generically at a price ranging from $0.50-$5.30 per dosage, making it accessible to the everyday people, not just hospital staff and law enforcement. Narcan has found its way into York County in an effort to fight the uphill battle against heroin abuse, a probelm facing the York area. However, the use of Narcan is not a permanent solution to heroin overdoses. According to York Daily Record, officials on the York County Heroin Task Force wish to make more changes on a larger scale to the treatment of heroin addicts, including improving the available treatment facilities and rehabilitation options. Despite this, Narcan is, as of now, the most efficient method to helping those who have overdosed on heroin.

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