In the ongoing battle against opioid overdoses, law enforcement agencies play a crucial role, often being the first to arrive in overdoses. With the fentanyl crisis evolving, particularly with the rise of synthetics like nitazines that are more powerful and could replace fentanyl, the tools and strategies employed by these first responders must adapt to effectively counteract the potent effects of these substances. One such tool is
Keith, this Fentanyl crisis is absolutely the biggest problem law enforcement has faced to date. Fentanyl related deaths are the leading cause of death in our area. With that said we received training on administering 4mg naloxone at the beginning of this epidemic. Our agency was supplied with cases of the 4mg doses and issued them to all of our officers. In this training that was instructed by a supervisor for an EMS service, we were told that if we gave a second dose or a third dose it was ok and would not cause any harm to the person. In my experience with administering to subjects experiencing overdoses from fentanyl 1- 4mg dose of naloxone was not effective. I found that using a 4mg dose in each side of the nose was more effective. Recently we revived a female where the mother administered 4mg prior to me arriving. Whenever I got there the female was purple/ blue, not breathing, but had a heartbeat. I did the same as I said I have done many times before, I administered 4mg on each side of the nose and began breathing for her. Shortly after she began breathing on her own and woke up. She then experienced a seizure. I am unsure if she had a history of seizures or if the withdrawal symptoms caused it. However, she’s alive and well today.
Keith, this Fentanyl crisis is absolutely the biggest problem law enforcement has faced to date. Fentanyl related deaths are the leading cause of death in our area. With that said we received training on administering 4mg naloxone at the beginning of this epidemic. Our agency was supplied with cases of the 4mg doses and issued them to all of our officers. In this training that was instructed by a supervisor for an EMS service, we were told that if we gave a second dose or a third dose it was ok and would not cause any harm to the person. In my experience with administering to subjects experiencing overdoses from fentanyl 1- 4mg dose of naloxone was not effective. I found that using a 4mg dose in each side of the nose was more effective. Recently we revived a female where the mother administered 4mg prior to me arriving. Whenever I got there the female was purple/ blue, not breathing, but had a heartbeat. I did the same as I said I have done many times before, I administered 4mg on each side of the nose and began breathing for her. Shortly after she began breathing on her own and woke up. She then experienced a seizure. I am unsure if she had a history of seizures or if the withdrawal symptoms caused it. However, she’s alive and well today.