Faster Response to Overdoses

Opioid overdoses can quickly turn fatal, and often the actions of law enforcement officers can mean the difference between life and death.

Federal Practitioner. 2015 March;32(3):e8

March 12, 2015|Federal Practitioner

Lowering the rate of deaths from opioid overdoses in Indian Country is the idea behind the Law Enforcement Naloxone Toolkit, developed by IHS, U.S. Department of Justice, and various HHS agencies.

Opioid overdoses can quickly turn fatal—within 45 to 90 minutes—but naloxone, provided in time, can restore breathing within 2 to 5 minutes, potentially preventing brain damage and death. Law enforcement officers are often first on the scene of an overdose, so their actions can mean the difference between life and death, according to the IHS.

The downloadable toolkit offers answers to frequent questions about naloxone and offers sample documents and templates, such as data collection forms. The toolkit is provided free to all interested tribal and IHS facilities.

As of October 2014, law enforcement agencies in at least 19 states have implemented naloxone programs.