GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ)- Green Bay Police officers have a new supply of a tool to fight opioid abuse.
Prevea Health donated 300 doses of Narcan and some medical kits to the department.
Green Bay Police Chief Andrew Smith says while Narcan has value to the department, it is not something they can afford with their budget.
“For us to get 300 doses at $74 dollars a dose, that busts through our budget. We do not have the money for that and we were desperate.”
Smith says officers will once again be able to take a stronger response in helping those who overdose.
“This funding has enabled us to not only supply the officers with new kits but also funds to make sure the officers are fully trained and know how to use this.”
He says the nasal spray reverses the effects of an overdose and can lead to the subject getting angry as they come down from their high.
Chief Smith says the Narcan will not only help save the lives of those who overdose, but will play a role in slowing down crime in Green Bay.
“I am convinced that a lot of the retail thefts that we have and residential burglaries that we have are are a result of people being addicted to drugs.”
Smith says that is because people need things to sell for quick money.
The tactical medical kits will aid officers in helping those with severe trauma injuries.
Prevea Health and CEO Dr. Ashok Rai says they made the donation because police are sometimes the first people on the scene, and it has proven to be life-saving.
He says the use of Narcan to help drug addicts has been a topic of controversy, but in his mind, that mindset needs to be changed.
“To me, giving Narcan to an addict is just like giving chemotherapy to a cancer patient. We would never deny that we should never deny this.”
He says addiction is a disease.
“So to say why should we be using Narcan because they are just a drug addict, they are more than just a drug addict.”
Dr. Rai says that is not the only use for Narcan.
“It’s the Vicodin that you are prescribed. It could be an accidental pill overdoes from a bottle that a child got ahold of. Maybe an elderly person struggles with reading or seeing and took the wrong pill.”
The police department started distributing Narcan to about 125 of its patrol officers in September of 2015.
