Area law enforcement agencies receive training on life-saving Naloxone medication

New York State University Police at Alfred State Thursday provided training to 24 area police officers on the use of Naloxone, a medication that temporarily reverses the effects of opioids and can save lives in the event of an overdose or medical emergency.

In addition to educating area officers on the use of Naloxone, the training provided an overview of the New York State Good Samaritan Law. This legislation is intended to encourage individuals to seek medical attention for someone who is experiencing a drug or alcohol overdose or other life-threatening injury, who otherwise may have refused to do so for fear of criminal prosecution. The training also detailed signs and symptoms of opioid overdose, provided officers with sample policies for their agencies dealing with the use and storage of Naloxone, and included a discussion with officers who have used Naloxone to reverse an opioid overdose.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, someone dies every 19 minutes from a drug overdose. Naloxone works by temporarily reversing the effects of the opioid - whether illicit or prescription - allowing the individual to regain consciousness and resume normal breathing, reversing the overdose, and potentially saving the lives of those involved. Naloxone is not the kind of medication that can be abused.

Officer Jeff Wilcox of the New York State University Police provided the training to members of the following agencies: Cuba Police Department, Friendship Police Department, Willing Police Department, Angelica Police Department, Independence Police Department, Canisteo Police Department, Allegany County Sheriff’s Office, and the Allegany County Probation Office.

Officers from the Alfred Police Department and the New York State University Police at Alfred State had previously completed the training.