Naloxone Administration by Law Enforcement

Purpose and Scope

• The purpose of this Standard Operating Procedure is to define guidelines governing the administration of naloxone hydrochloride by sworn Sheriff’s Office personnel.
• The objective is to treat suspected opioid overdoses and reduce injuries and fatalities when a Sheriff’s Office deputy arrives on scene before emergency medical services personnel.
• This procedure applies to sworn Sheriff's Office personnel who have successfully completed the required course of instruction on the administration of an emergency opioid antagonist, such as naloxone hydrochloride.

Definition and Discussion

• An antagonist is a drug that counteracts the effects of another drug.
• Naloxone hydrochloride (Naloxone/Narcan) is an emergency opioid antagonist that blocks the effects of opioids administered from outside the body and is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of opioid overdose.
• Opioid overdose is the ingestion of an excessive dose of heroin or opiate-based prescription drugs, with indicators including the patient not waking up, not responding to voice or touch, breathing is very slow, irregular, or has stopped, “pinpoint pupils,” and/or abnormally low heart rate or blood pressure.

Procedure

• Only Sheriff’s Office deputies who have completed the required course of instruction shall be issued naloxone hydrochloride.
• Deputies who are the first to arrive at the scene of a suspected opioid overdose shall ensure the safety of the scene and request the response of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) via the Communications Bureau.
• Deputies shall perform an assessment of the individual and determine what medical services may be needed.
• If the individual does not have a pulse, CPR and an AED should be used.
• If a pulse is present, naloxone hydrochloride shall be administered as quickly as possible.
• A second dose of naloxone hydrochloride may be given after 2-3 minutes if the individual’s breathing does not return to normal or if breathing difficulty resumes.
• After the use of naloxone hydrochloride, deputies should be prepared for an unpredictable and potentially violent response from the individual.

Additional Information

• The use of naloxone hydrochloride is not a substitute for emergency medical care.
• EMS must still respond regardless of the individual’s apparent condition following the use of naloxone hydrochloride.
• All individuals revived with the use of naloxone hydrochloride should be encouraged to go to the hospital for further evaluation.
• If the individual refuses transport to the hospital, they should be evaluated for a Marchman Act to determine if involuntary examination is needed.
• Used naloxone hydrochloride dispensers can be given to EMS personnel for disposal or disposed of as normal refuse.
• When naloxone hydrochloride is administered, the Sheriff’s Office deputy shall originate a general offense report and document its use and results.

Training

• The Sheriff's Office will provide a course of instruction regarding the use of naloxone hydrochloride to all approved sworn personnel.

Purpose and Scope

• The purpose of this Standard Operating Procedure is to define guidelines governing the administration of naloxone hydrochloride by sworn Sheriff’s Office personnel.
• The objective is to treat suspected opioid overdoses and reduce injuries and fatalities when a Sheriff’s Office deputy arrives on scene before emergency medical services personnel.
• This procedure applies to sworn Sheriff's Office personnel who have successfully completed the required course of instruction on the administration of an emergency opioid antagonist, such as naloxone hydrochloride.

Definition and Discussion

• An antagonist is a drug that counteracts the effects of another drug.
• Naloxone hydrochloride (Naloxone/Narcan) is an emergency opioid antagonist that blocks the effects of opioids administered from outside the body and is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of opioid overdose.
• Opioid overdose is the ingestion of an excessive dose of heroin or opiate-based prescription drugs, with indicators including the patient not waking up, not responding to voice or touch, breathing is very slow, irregular, or has stopped, “pinpoint pupils,” and/or abnormally low heart rate or blood pressure.

Procedure

• Only Sheriff’s Office deputies who have completed the required course of instruction shall be issued naloxone hydrochloride.
• Deputies who are the first to arrive at the scene of a suspected opioid overdose shall ensure the safety of the scene and request the response of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) via the Communications Bureau.
• Deputies shall perform an assessment of the individual and determine what medical services may be needed.
• If the individual does not have a pulse, CPR and an AED should be used.
• If a pulse is present, naloxone hydrochloride shall be administered as quickly as possible.
• A second dose of naloxone hydrochloride may be given after 2-3 minutes if the individual’s breathing does not return to normal or if breathing difficulty resumes.
• After the use of naloxone hydrochloride, deputies should be prepared for an unpredictable and potentially violent response from the individual.

Additional Information

• The use of naloxone hydrochloride is not a substitute for emergency medical care.
• EMS must still respond regardless of the individual’s apparent condition following the use of naloxone hydrochloride.
• All individuals revived with the use of naloxone hydrochloride should be encouraged to go to the hospital for further evaluation.
• If the individual refuses transport to the hospital, they should be evaluated for a Marchman Act to determine if involuntary examination is needed.
• Used naloxone hydrochloride dispensers can be given to EMS personnel for disposal or disposed of as normal refuse.
• When naloxone hydrochloride is administered, the Sheriff’s Office deputy shall originate a general offense report and document its use and results.

Training

• The Sheriff's Office will provide a course of instruction regarding the use of naloxone hydrochloride to all approved sworn personnel.