Pubdate: Wed, 18 Jun 2014
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
Copyright: 2014 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc
Contact:  http://www.philly.com/inquirer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/340
Author: Maddie Hanna
Page: A3
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/naloxone

CHRISTIE TO EXPAND HEROIN-OD TREATMENT PROGRAM

TRENTON - A pilot program to equip New Jersey's police and first
responders with a drug that can reverse the effects of a heroin
overdose will be expanded statewide, Gov. Christie announced Tuesday.

The program, which trains police and emergency medical technicians to
administer Narcan to overdose victims and equips them with the drug,
began this year in Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Since April, 40
overdoses have been reversed in the two counties, Christie said.

"We have the ability to prevent this type of tragedy and help save
lives," the Republican governor said at a news conference outside the
Rescue Mission of Trenton, which provides addiction treatment. "We
need to be involved in doing it."

In addition to expanding the program through county law enforcement
agencies, Christie said every state police patrol vehicle soon would
be equipped with the drug, which police would administer nasally.

Col. Rick Fuentes, superintendent of the state police, said 900 kits
were being dispersed to the 26 patrol stations, as well as some
specialty units. Training will be completed by July 1, Fuentes said.

State police also are working with state health officials to better
combat the spread of heroin, Fuentes said, by "examining detailed
information on every heroin seizure and overdose," and searching for
patterns "that will create greater enforcement opportunities" to
prevent distribution.

The cost of equipping the state police with Narcan kits will be about
$28,000, said Paul Loriquet, a spokesman for the state Attorney
General's Office. The office has been buying Narcan kits at $31 each,
he said.

Kevin Roberts, a spokesman for Christie, said the costs of expanding
the program to every county depended on how many officers each county
trained and equipped.

Counties, as well as the state police, will pay for the kits through
forfeited funds, Roberts said. He said training was a "largely
one-time" cost, done under a model that allowed a group of officers to
learn from one person and then train others.

Christie signed a law last year that shielded non-health-care
professionals from liability while administering Narcan in an
emergency. He also later issued a waiver enabling EMTs to administer
it.

The governor's announcement Tuesday coincided with the 43d anniversary
of President Richard M. Nixon's declaration of a national war on
drugs, which Christie - a former federal prosecutor - took the
opportunity to pan as "an abject failure" that had not tackled the
underlying causes of addiction.

"What we need to understand is this is a disease," said Christie, who
has backed mandatory drug court for nonviolent offenders. "We need to
treat this disease and give folks who have it the tools to deal with
it."
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MAP posted-by: Matt