La Porte PD, Baytown PD Receive Narcan Donations

From: Amber Carter, Coalition Coordinator, Southeast Harris County Community Coalition

LA PORTE, TX -- The La Porte Police Department was among several law enforcement agencies in southeast Texas who recently received a Narcan donation. Representatives from the Southeast Harris County Community Coalition of the Bay Area Council on Drugs and Alcohol (BACODA), accepted the donation of more than 700 does of Narcan from ADAPTPharma for distribution among first responders.

The Southeast Harris County Community Coalition distributed those Narcan doses to Harris County Constable Precinct 3 and 8, and the La Porte and Baytown Police Departments.

“Many times police officers are literally the first emergency responder who encounters a person in an opioid overdose. Officers who carry Narcan, can administer the lifesaving drug when seconds count,” said Sgt. Bennie Boles, Chief of Staff for the La Porte Police Department.

Narcan, also known as Naloxone, is a drug used to reverse the affects of opioid overdoses. When a person overdoses on an opioid, their breathing and pulse slow, leading to brain damage or death. A dose of Naloxone or Narcan stops those effects for 60 to 90 minutes by binding to the brain's opioid receptors and essentially switching them off. Naloxone doesn't stop the overdose, but it helps the person to survive until emergency care can be administered.

If the medication is mistakenly given in the misdiagnosis of an overdose, there will be no negative side effects.

The Southeast Harris County Community Coalition in partnership with Lee College, La Porte and Baytown Police Departments held a training in February 2019 that trained over 60 law enforcement and first responders to administer the lifesaving drug if needed.

“We are extremely grateful to BACODA for leading the way in ensuring local law enforcement has access to Narcan. With BACODA’s recent donation of Narcan to the Baytown Police Department we will be able to equip all of our officers with this lifesaving agent, ensuring they are ready and able to respond should the need arise. We are both honored and proud to call BACODA our partner in the ongoing fight against opioids in our community. ” Lt. Steve Dorris, homicide investigator with the Baytown Police Department said.

Click here to learn more about Naloxone or Narcan.

To learn more or get involved in helping to prevent prescription drug abuse and overdose, join Southeast Harris County Community Coalition or visit www.bacoda.org/coalitions for more information.