CSFD: Narcan program aims to reduce overdose deaths

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) is tackling the fentanyl crisis by launching a new program called Narcan Leave Behind, which will make Narcan more available in the Pikes Peak Region.

CSFD was awarded more than 1,000 doses of Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, to distribute throughout the community. Narcan is a medicine used for emergency treatment for opioid overdoses.

Officials said the goal of the new program is to provide Narcan to people most at risk of experiencing or witnessing an overdose.

“Time matters in a situation like this. The longer somebody is not breathing adequately or obviously if they’re not breathing, we need to resuscitate them as soon as possible,” said Stein Bronsky, CSFD Medical Director.

CSFD’s fire trucks will now be equipped with the new tool.

“It literally takes somebody who’s almost dead and makes them alive instantaneously. There’s no downside to this medication. If it’s given and it doesn’t need to be given, it causes no harm,” added Bronsky.

It’s all thanks to the new Narcan Leave Behind project that launched on Monday, July 22.

“We want this in the hands of everybody in the community that could possibly need it or want it as a safety measure against an opiate overdose,” added Bronsky.

Now CSFD has more than 1,000 doses, and they say it’s easy to use for anyone.

“You literally take the medication and put your hand like this (under the bottle). Take off the cap, and you push in and that’s it,” said Bronsky demonstrating how to use the medication in an interview.

The recent El Paso County Coroner’s annual report shows that 94% of drug related deaths happen before the patient even arrives at the hospital.

“What are we going to do to make next year healthier and safer?” asked Dr. Leon Kelly, El Paso County Coroner.

The report also found fentanyl is now the leading cause of drug-related deaths in the county, and fentanyl deaths increased by 6% over the past year.

“It can be alarming that it seems to be a topic of discussion amongst all of us, and it really means that we’re in a place where when we need to get to help, we get it, and that’s a good thing,” added Dr. Kelly.

The hope for the new program is to help bring those numbers down for next year’s report.

“You cannot cause harm to somebody by giving them Narcan, you can only help them, you cannot harm them,” said Bronsky.

He said even if Narcan is distributed to someone who does not need it, it will not harm them in anyway, but if there is a suspicion that someone may need it, do not hesitate.

Narcan is also available to buy over the counter at several major retail stores like Walgreens.

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