Narcan Factors into Fewer Drug Deaths
by Randy Pierce
Increased availability of the drug known as Narcan is believed to be a significant factor in the reduction of overdose deaths in Madison County, according to a statement by its coroner, Nick Novacich, who is in his first term of office following the retirement of his longtime predecessor, Stephen Nonn.
Novacich told the Madison County Board Public Safety Committee on Monday, December 9, that he sees the marked drop in drug overdose deaths during the past year as a positive trend, adding, “We’ll take it as a win. I’m hoping that education, Narcan and everything of that nature is working.”
“So, we’ll keep that, hopefully, to zero,” Novacich said, responding to a comment from a committee member about not only the wider availability of Narcan but also people’s knowledge of how to apply it, “I’m sure it played a major part. It seems like everybody has access to it now.”
Later in the same meeting, Marcos Pulido, the chief deputy for the Madison County Sheriff’s Department, related as how during a gathering of top police officials from various communities, “It was talked about last week how the amount of Narcan that law enforcement is using is up which is, to a point, a good thing.”
“It’s bad that we have to use it,” Pulido went on, “but the availability, and I don’t know if studies will ever be done to show that, the availability of Narcan is definitely making an impact and it’s definitely having a positive result.”
“That’s a battle that we’re going to continue fighting,” Pulido added, “on why we have to use it, but Narcan is definitely used. Just paying attention to some local police departments and even the sheriff’s office, there are several times a month where I know our deputies are giving Narcan to people.”
In more remote, rural areas of the county, according to Pulido, deputies on patrol may be closer to situations where Narcan can be put to good use faster than the capabilities of the local volunteer fire departments which may have it on hand.
Fortunately, Pulido explained, there are federal and state grants, available through agencies like the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System, which will fund the acquisition of free Narcan for local first responder groups while the sheriff’s department has partnered with some hospitals and medical facilities to provide it to them.
Sheriff’s department deputies are trained in the use of Narcan, he pointed out, adding, “The culture of not talking about it is starting to be over. They’re chiseling away at that culture because it’s more and more of a conversation (topic).”
According to an online source called Healthline.com, Narcan (formally named naloxone) is an over-the-counter drug that’s used to treat known or possible opioid overdoses and is represented in the form of a nasal (nose) spray. Each container holds one dose of Narcan that’s sprayed into one nostril.
Narcan is used for people of all ages if an opioid overdose has definitely or possibly occurred, meaning someone accidentally or intentionally takes more opioid than his or her body can safely process and is usually administered by a first responder, caregiver or loved one if they think this has happened.
After Narcan has been given, 9-1-1 or your local emergency number should be called right away. Administering Narcan is not a substitute for emergency medical care for opioid overdose.
In March 2023, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved Narcan for over the counter use, meaning it is available without a prescription and you can purchase it at many pharmacies.
