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Today Hamilton County Sheriff Mark Bowen announced that his deputies will begin carrying Naloxone (Narcan) as soon as final training in administering the medication can be completed. The Sheriff’s Office is the first law enforcement agency in Hamilton County to be trained and equipped to administer intranasal Naloxone, a medication that prevents and/or reverses the effects of heroin and other opioids and opiates, including many prescription painkillers and other medications.

As with many areas around the United States and Indiana, Hamilton County has seen an upswing in the number of heroin related overdoses and deaths over the past several years. Citing statistics released by the Indiana State Department of Health and the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office, Sheriff Bowen explained, “Hamilton County currently ranks 4th in the State in the total number of opioid overdoses, behind Marion, Lake, and St. Joseph counties. Our country has also witnessed a dramatic 45 percent increase in heroin related deaths.” According to the Federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, someone dies every 19 minutes from a drug overdose, and nearly three out of four prescription drug overdoses are caused by prescription pain killers. “This increase in overdose deaths illustrates that addiction to heroin and other opioids, including some prescription painkillers, represents nothing less than a public health crisis. Every day, this crisis touches and devastates Hamilton County residents from every background and walk of life,” said Chief Deputy Tom Gehlhausen.

Sheriff Bowen detailed some of the many efforts used to address the current drug issue, explaining, “The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office has led the fight against drug abuse by arresting individuals in the supply chain, and gathering intelligence on other drug suppliers and users and we will continue to rigorously enforce applicable laws. Education has been supplied to residents of all ages through public education forums, DARE programs, social media platforms, community meetings, programs for individuals incarcerated in the county jail, the Hamilton County Drug Court and a variety of other methods.” Prescription Drug Take-Back events and an Rx Drop Box in the lobby of the Sheriff’s Office provide opportunities for residents to remove unwanted and unused medications in a safe and responsible manner.

“Adding to the current efforts by training deputies to administer intranasal Narcan allows for a quick and effective response in the event of acute heroin or opiate related emergencies in the field, especially when deputies arrive prior to medics, which happens frequently in rural parts of the county,” continued Sheriff Bowen. Narcan temporarily reverses the effects of the opioid, whether illicit or accidental overdose, allowing the individual to regain consciousness and regular breathing. Patrol Division Captain Dennis Quakenbush, whose deputies deal with overdoses in the community, believes, “If we can save a life and put someone on the path to recovery, the program will be a huge success.”

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office has led the way in many lifesaving technologies, including all Patrol Division officers trained and equipped with AED’s and Narcan. Funding for the purchase of Narcan was obtained through grants and the project is a collaborative effort involving Riverview Hospital, the Hamilton County Health Department, Overdose Lifeline, the Hamilton County Council on Alcohol and Drugs, and the Sheriff’s Office. All Merit and Road Qualified Reserves will be issued Narcan and trained to recognize signs of opioid overdoses and administration of the medication. Officers in the Jail, Juvenile Service Center, Courthouse, and Community Correction facility will also be trained in the application of Narcan and will have Narcan on site should it be needed. Training is expected to be completed by mid-March.