Springfield Police Department Surpasses 700 Life-Saving Uses of Narcan
Springfield Police Department Surpasses 700 Life-Saving Uses of Narcan
Springfield, Mass. --- August 31st is recognized as International Overdose Awareness Day. The day serves as a way to raise awareness about fatal and non-fatal overdoses, educate the public, and encourage action and discussion around overdose prevention. It is also meant to recognize the grief felt by family and friends whose loved ones have been lost to addiction or have been permanently injured as a result of an overdose.
Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence E. Akers is pleased to announce that the department has surpassed 700 lives saved in its ongoing Narcan program (712 as of 8/31/26).
On March 19th, 2019, officers began carrying the opioid reversal drug. Narcan, an opioid antagonist, can quickly reverse the effects of a potentially fatal painkiller or heroin 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 on opioids and it has no potential for abuse.
Superintendent Akers stated, “With more than 700 lives saved by our Springfield Police Officers administering Narcan, I am proud of the difference this program is making in our community as we continue to fight the opioid epidemic here in the city. It is also important to remember the individuals who have lost their lives due to the opioid crisis and their families who continue to grieve. This Monday on International Overdose Awareness Day I’d like to recognize our officers, firefighters and paramedics in this city who, on a daily basis, encounter individuals suffering from addiction and act in unison to save those suffering from the effects of an opioid overdose.”
“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”, stated Mayor Domenic J. Sarno. “This has never been more evident than with the prevalence of opioid-related overdoses. The damage inflicted by the opioid crisis to our Springfield community has been tremendous and continues to take Herculean efforts from the city, including our Police and Health Departments, nonprofits, our community partners and stakeholders to heal. 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 700 lives have been saved, a testament to their selfless service to our community and those in need.”
In Springfield, Narcan 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 stationed throughout the public safety complex.
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.