ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta police officers will begin carrying a drug to counteract the effects of opiate overdoses.
Department officials said a statement Thursday that more than 100 officers have been trained to use Nalozone — which is also known as Narcan. Department officials say officers will carry the nasal form of the drug to help reverse suspected opiate overdoses if emergency medical help hasn't arrived yet.
Department officials say overdoses on heroin, oxycodone and other drugs can suppress breathing and leave users unconscious.
Officials say the drug can counteract the effects of an overdose within one to three minutes after being administered.
Department officials have said heroin deaths rose from 24 to 31 between 2012 and 2013. Department officials say there were more than 25 heroin-related deaths in 2014.
