Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Thursday, December 11, 2014
(WAYNE TOWNSHIP) - Ask any police agency in central Indiana and they will tell you heroin has become a big problem in their community.
WTHR reports, in Wayne Township they estimate they see an average one person a day overdosing to the point of not breathing.
Now first responders have a tool to help prevent deaths from overdosing on heroin or other types of opiate drugs. It's a nasal version of the drug Narcan. The drug reverses the effects of drugs like heroin.
It looks like a pen and is administered like a flu mist.
Up until now, only paramedics were allowed to use the antidote.
Wayne Township EMS Director Shane Hardwick says that first responders are now learning how to give the drug.
Hardwick says heroin is not just a street drug, it can be found in medicine cabinets. First responders are see opiate ODs twice as much as did just a couple years ago.
It won't prevent heroin use, but the hope is with the problem of heroin use becoming bigger, they can get ahead of it and save lives.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.