Dog Given Narcan After Ingesting Opioids

LYMAN, ME — A 3-year-old yellow lab named Addie had to be given Narcan, the drug that is used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, after the dog's owner became fearful that Addie had overdosed on oxycodone.

The York County Sheriff's Office in Maine said Addie had inadvertently gotten into the medication on Thursday, which was legally prescribed to the dog's owner.

Addie seemed drowsy, and the dog's owner went to a local veterinarian, but it didn't help. So the owner flagged down a sergeant in Lyman and asked him to give Narcan to Addie. After being given the drug, Addie seemed to "perk up a little."

The sheriff's office said that by Thursday evening, she seemed fine.

Narcan, an effective drug that is used to treat opioid overdoses, is carried by a number of local law enforcement agencies. However, there are several law enforcement agencies that don't carry the drug. One Ohio sheriff started a public conversation when he publicly stated that his officers don't carry Narcan and nor will they.

Butler County sheriff Richard Jones cited officer safety as one of the reasons he won't let his officers carry Narcan. He also said that with Narcan, addicts are simply being revived and not cured. Jones said that till there is a law that says police officers have to carry Narcan, his officers will not be using it.

Image via York County Sheriff's Office