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Tyrone officers to carry naloxone

TYRONE — Tyrone police officers soon will have access to the life-saving opioid antidote naloxone after a vote Monday by Borough Council.

Overdoses on opioid drugs, such as heroin and prescription painkillers, have become more frequent in Blair County and across the state, said Judy Rosser, executive director of Blair County Drug and Alcohol Partnerships.

“I can tell you that ground zero for this issue in our community is … middle schools,” she said. “That’s when these choices are being made.”

While drug addiction is often viewed as a moral flaw, Rosser said perceptions need to change.

“This is a disease that changes the brain. The brain is hijacked,” she said, explaining that addiction can sometimes begin with a prescription painkiller dependency before leading to heroin use.

Overdoses can been deadly, and, locally, many have died from consuming opioid drugs, Rosser said.

Naloxone binds to opiate receptors in the brain, reversing the effects of opioid overdoses.

“With the opioid crisis, the naloxone is a tool,” Rosser said. “It’s a safety net. It’s not a fix, and we know that.”

Police officers are often the first to arrive to overdose calls, so it is important for them to have access to the antidote, officials said.

“The naloxone provides an opportunity for that officer to save a life,” Rosser said.

Council members in attendance voted unanimously to allow officers to carry naloxone. Members Bill Fink, Tyrone’s mayor, and Nathan Verilla were absent.

Borough Police Chief John Romeo thanked council for the vote.

After the meeting, Romeo said officers will soon begin training to learn how to properly administer and care for the antidote, which will be applied via a nasal spray.

Romeo said eight doses likely will be purchased to accommodate the borough’s four vehicles. Doses cost about $70, but that expense will later be reimbursed via a grant, Romeo said.

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