Full Notification

Rutherfordton Police Department Announces Deployment of EVZIO™ Naloxone Auto-injectors to Fight against Opioid Overdose Deaths.

Drug poisoning is now the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. Rutherfordton, NC - (June 25th, 2015) The Rutherfordton Police Department today announced that they have received a donation of EVZIO™ naloxone auto-injectors from Kaléo, the Richmond, Virginia-based pharmaceutical company. EVZIO™ is the first and only FDA-approved naloxone product specifically indicated for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose as manifested by respiratory and/or central nervous system depression and is intended for immediate administration as emergency therapy in settings where opioids may be present, including outside of supervised medical settings. Nearly seventeen thousand Americans die each year from prescription opioid overdose and unintended drug poisoning has surpassed automobile collisions as the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., driven largely by prescription opioids. Opioid overdose can cause a person’s breathing to severely slow down and even stop. EVZIO™ is a pre-filled, single-use, hand-held auto-injector that works by temporarily blocking the effect of an opioid, potentially reversing the life threatening respiratory depression and allowing the recipient to breathe more regularly. Each EVZIO™ device uses voice and visual cues to assist in guiding the user through the process and delivers a single 0.4 mg dose of naloxone. EVZIO™ is not a substitute for emergency medical care. "The rising number of overdose deaths from opioid-based prescription drugs and heroin is one of the top concerns for our community," said Kevin Lovelace, Chief of the Rutherfordton Police Department. .This new product delivers a potentially life-saving dose of naloxone via a simple to use auto-injector system that is easy to carry and administer to someone experiencing an opioid overdose." "We are pleased to be making this donation as a part of our commitment to widen access to naloxone,” said T. Spencer Williamson, CEO of Kaléo. "We are honored to support the outstanding efforts of the first responder community to help save the lives of those who are experiencing an opioid overdose.” “With this donation, we will have an opportunity to make a real difference in the fight against unintentional drug poisoning and overdose," said Chief Kevin Lovelace. EVZIO™ first became available in the United States by prescription in July 2014. The Rutherfordton Police Department will be working with Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services to establish protocols and to train our Police Officers in proper use of this life-saving tool.