Springfield Police Department Marks Six Years in Ongoing Narcan Program
Springfield Police Officers Have Administered 617 Life-Saving Doses in Six Years
Springfield, Mass. — March 19th marked six years since the Springfield Police Department outfitted officers with Narcan. Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence E. Akers is proud to announce that in those six years, Springfield Police Officers have administered 617 life-saving doses of the medication since the program began.
Springfield Police Officers began carrying nasal Naloxone (Narcan) on March 19, 2019. The medication is attached to the automated external defibrillator (AED) in every marked, unmarked and undercover car used by the department so that each of the approximately 500 sworn officers who have access to an AED also have access to Narcan. Additionally, Narcan is available to all bureaus and in all satellite locations, and is located throughout the public safety complex.
Superintendent Akers stated, “Our officers have saved more than 600 lives in our community in the past six years which speaks not only to the success of the program, but also to the extent of the opioid crisis. As more heroin and other drugs become laced with the deadly opioid fentanyl, it is imperative that we continue to do our part in fighting this epidemic. When our officers administer Narcan, they want to not only save these individuals, but also help them on their path to recovery.”
Proper use of the medication is taught to officers during the police academy as well as each year during in-service training. As part of the training, officers learn the appropriate circumstances for Narcan use, how to administer doses and proper disposal methods after a dose is given.
Narcan, an opioid antagonist, can quickly reverse the effects of a potentially fatal overdose by binding to opioid receptors and reversing or blocking the effects of other opioids, quickly restoring normal breathing. Narcan is not dangerous if administered to a person who is not overdosing and it has no potential for abuse.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno stated, “God Bless our brave and dedicated men and women of the Springfield Police Department. Day in and day out our SPD officers continue to do their job of serving and protecting our community. This has never been more evident than with the increase in opioid-related overdoses. Thanks to our SPD carrying Narcan, they can immediately respond to these unfortunate situations and save lives and just as important, steer them towards recovery program assistance. Since SPD started carrying Narcan in their vehicles over 617 lives have been saved, a testament to their selfless service to our community and those in need.”
According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) preliminary data for 2023 shows that there were 2,310 confirmed opioid‐related deaths, including 231 deaths in Hampden County.