Fishers police add overdose antidote to drug fighting arsenal

FISHERS, Ind. (WISH) — Fishers police and firefighters are training to use narcan, a drug that can reverse the effects of a heroin overdose.

Fishers is the second Hamilton County police department to make narcan part of it’s drug fighting effort. Carmel officers finished up training in May.

Early Thursday morning, officers attended training on how to use narcan with help from the fire department as well. The department recently received funding from a grant through the Indiana Attorney General’s Office and Project Overdose Lifeline.

Drug use, especially heroin has become a huge problem in central Indiana. Narcan can quickly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose if it’s given in a timely manner, and that’s why police said it’s so important that they, not just paramedics, can provide it.

“In these types of emergencies, every second counts. So since we are already in the area and we are most likely to be the first on the scene it’s important for us to have this type of equipment so that we can provide this to the victim until the paramedics arrive.”

The officers practice administering the nasal spray on mannequins and now that training is complete, they will have narcan in their unit with them at all times. Even if someone is not overdosing and police give them narcan, there are not any adverse effects, so if they suspect an overdose they can safely and confidently administer the drug.