Pa. City`s Police Department Purchases Narcan

Nov. 18--Beginning later this week, the Pottsville Bureau of Police will become the first municipal department in the area to equip every marked patrol vehicle, as well as certain supplemental usage vehicles, with Overdose Prevention Rescue Kits containing the drug naloxone hydrochloride.

Naloxone hydrochloride, more commonly known as "Narcan," blocks or reverses the effects of an opioid overdose caused by the misuse of certain medications or illegal drugs such as heroin.

Most significantly, naloxone can directly reverse the slowed breathing that directly leads to overdose deaths.

Police Chief Richard F. Wojciechowsky said that most people now are aware of the fact that current drug trends include a high frequency of opiate abuse and heroin addiction.

"The abuse on a local level mirrors that of the national level currently and it is accompanied by the increased frequency of incidents involving overdoses from the drugs. Everyone in our department recognizes the value for law enforcement to be prepared to participate in the first responder treatment phase when needed," he said.

All Pottsville police officers have completed initial state-provided online training and are in the process of completing in-service training sessions provided by Wojciechowsky and Patrick Moran, education and community outreach coordinator for Schuylkill EMS.

Training topics included diagnosing when the use of the drug is appropriate, actual physical administration of the drug and post-use considerations and departmental policies and procedures associated with the use and proper storage of the rescue medicine in accordance with practical protocols.

The chief said that when he approached Mayor James T. Muldowney and the city council about the possibility of starting a program like this, they readily agreed to participate and commit to funding any future costs associated with medicine replacement or additional training.

Wojciechowsky said he was able to obtain the supplies at no initial cost to the city with the $1,000, or $100 per kit, startup cost donated by the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association.

He stressed that this is a proactive measure to enhance the service Schuylkill EMS already provides to Pottsville.

Wojciechowsky said that EMS has successfully utilized an injectable form of the drug for many years, but Pottsville police have chosen to utilize an intranasal system to dispense the medicine in order to alleviate safety concerns associated with the use of hypodermic needles. The kits that are available to police officers will be used solely in the event of an opioid overdose emergency that includes several distinguishable factors, including the absence of quick EMS response.

"We will be carrying the rescue kits for those rare cases in which Schuylkill EMS is not available to provide immediate care," Wojciechowsky said, adding that "it (the kits) will provide us with another tool to assist the citizens of Pottsville."

Although the initiative to equip Pottsville police with naloxone began a few months ago, Wojciechowsky said it took time to obtain funding to buy the kits and also find a city pharmacy that was able to provide the naloxone medicine and administration equipment his department chose to utilize.

He said a prescription was obtained through a standing order by Dr. Rachel Levine, physician general for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and arrangements were eventually found with the cooperative effort of Yorkville Drug Store, West Market Street, to fill that prescription.

"Modern law enforcement is expected to successfully perform so many duties that were not traditionally recognized as being a part of the standard job description and police officers do that on a daily basis. Our goal with this program is consistent with the Pottsville Bureau of Police mission statement -- 'to provide leadership, professional service and protection' -- in order to enhance the well-being of our citizens in every way possible," Wojciechowsky said.

Copyright 2015 - Republican & Herald, Pottsville, Pa.