Hampden County Municipal Narcan Initiative Surpasses 1,000 Doses Supplied to Local Police and Fire Departments

October 23, 2020 -Springfield- In October of 2018 Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni along with Baystate Health, Trinity Health of New England, and The Center for Human Development announced a $70,000 commitment to provide Naloxone, also known as Narcan, to participating municipal police and fire departments across Hampden County.

Since that announcement the commitment has grown to over $125,000 with two additional rounds of funding by the Hampden District Attorney’s Office totaling $55,000.

Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni stated, “All indications are the opioid crises has worsened during the Covid-19 pandemic. Ensuring local first responders have the necessary life-saving medication to assist those suffering from addiction is crucial in our life-saving efforts. The partnership between law enforcement and healthcare organizations to expand the availability of this life-saving drug is crucial in helping those suffering get the treatment they need.”

To date, 1,120 doses of Naloxone have been distributed to local police and fire departments in effort to combat opioid overdoses here in Hampden County.   

“Each of the over 1,000 doses of Narcan distributed as part of this special initiative to first responders represents a life saved. The opioid crisis has not gone away during the coronavirus pandemic, if anything, social isolation has made it worse. Any opportunity for people to seek treatment and enter recovery is a second chance at life,” said Dr. Peter Friedmann, Chief Research Officer at Baystate Health

In addition to help funding the initiative, Baystate Health administers the program and maintains a sufficient supply of Naloxone at its pharmacy. When the medication is in short supply, any participating agency can go directly to Baystate and pick up the desired doses.

The following departments participate in the program: Springfield Police and Fire Departments, Westfield Fire Department, Chicopee Police and Fire Departments, Holyoke Police and Fire Department, Longmeadow Police and Fire Department, Agawam Police Department, Wilbraham Police Department, West Springfield Police Department, and  Ludlow Police Department.

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