Nassau County, NY - March 26, 2015 - Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano and Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter today announced that volunteer officers of the Nassau County Auxiliary Police have begun receiving Naloxone or Narcan kits after successfully completing training for use of the life-saving antidote - which can reverse the fatal effects of an Opioid overdose - at the Nassau County Police Academy. Officers who complete the training are required to carry the kits with them while on duty.
“Too many young people are falling victim to heroin and opioid addiction and we must do all that we can to save their lives and put them on the road to recovery,” said County Executive Mangano. “My administration has combated heroin and opioid abuse through a comprehensive strategy that includes enhanced enforcement, education, awareness and treatment offered by our new ‘Shot of Life’ program. By ensuring both police officers and auxiliary police are trained to administer and carry Narcan, we guarantee more lives will be saved from this deadly epidemic.”
Every Nassau County Police Officer on patrol has already been trained to administer Naloxone or Narcan. Training is critical as statistics indicate that 44 people died of heroin overdoses and 115 people died of prescription drug overdoses in Nassau County in 2013. Each Narcan kit consists of a zip bag or pouch containing two prefilled syringes of naloxone, two atomizers for nasal administration, sterile gloves and a booklet on the use of the drug.
“The COP Program is an essential part of our effort to combat the spike in heroin overdoses that is plaguing communities and families on Long Island and across New York State,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “By providing police officers with naloxone, we are making this life-saving overdose antidote, available in every town, village and hamlet on Long Island.”
Nassau County Acting Police Commissioner Thomas C. Krumpter stated, “Although Naloxone kits have been a required piece of equipment on Nassau County Police Ambulances for many years, the impact of it the hands of our patrol force has been tremendous. In the past few months, some Nassau County police officers have been equipped with Naloxone kits, resulting in numerous lives having been saved from accidental heroin overdoses. With the funding from the Attorney General's office, the entire patrol will now have this life saving tool available to them."
The success of naloxone in combatting opioid overdoses cannot be overstated. In 2014, Nassau County Police Officers and Ambulance Medical Technicians saved the lives of 258 citizens. Since becoming State-certified as an Overdose Responder Program in late 2012, the Mangano administration has hosted more than 70 Overdose Prevention and Drug Abuse Awareness Seminars and trained nearly 3,600 non-medically trained citizens to recognize the signs of an Opioid overdose, attempt rescue breathing and to administer Narcan. At least 10 trainees have reported saving the life of a friend or family member overdosing on an Opioid this year.
To further assist residents, County Executive Mangano and the Long Island Crisis Center, recently launched a new 24 hour a day, seven day a week Mental Health Substance Abuse Helpline, (516) 227-TALK, to better serve residents who struggle with mental illness and substance use disorders.
About the Nassau County Auxiliary Police
The Nassau County Auxiliary Police Program is part of the Nassau County Police Department's Community Safety Unit / Auxiliary Police Section. The main mission of the Auxiliary Police is to help prevent and deter criminal activity by routine patrols in marked Auxiliary Police vehicles, and to ensure the safety of their fellow residents during community events such as parades, fairs, fireworks displays, holiday ceremonies, and festivities, as well as assisting the police and fire departments during severe weather and emergency situations. Every year, the volunteer officers of the Nassau County Auxiliary Police perform over 70,000 hours of service to the residents of Nassau County. For more information, please visit www.pdcnaux.org.