In 2018 Heartland Regional Medical Center’s auxiliary volunteers donated 75 doses of Naloxone (Na-lox-own), an opioid overdose treatment to the Marion Police Department.
Nearly two years later the department’s supply is running low.
The emergency department at Heartland Regional replenished the Marion Police department’s dwindling supply of Naloxone known by the brand name Narcan with 75 more doses Friday.
The medication is use to reverse the effects of opioid overdose by blocking opioid receptors to return the victims breathing.
Marion Chief of Police David Fitts says this donation couldn’t have come at a better time.
“The reality of our world today is that we go through it quick.”
The department has gone through most of the 75 doses that were donated in July of 2018.
Chief Fitts says without these donations of both the medication and training provided by Heartland the department would endure an extra financial burden at around $35 a dose.
“The doses of this medication are very expensive and it’s something difficult to plan for cause you don’t know when you’re going to use it, how often you’re going to use it or when you’re going to run out.”
Heartland’s EMS Coordinator JJ King says she trains every police officer to administer the medication because many times they arrive before first responders can.
“This medication truly is lifesaving; it will work within a matter of seconds and we have seen it save lives.”
