Sevier County Deputies Now Carry Narcan for Opioid Overdose

Grant provides local law enforcement with Narcan nasal spray to combat the growing problem of drug overdoses in the community.

According to Sevier County Sheriff Ronald L. Seals, calls for service regarding possible drug overdoses have increased for Sevier County Emergency Medical Personnel and Law Enforcement. In an article released by the Police Executive Research Forum, 2016 was labeled as the “Peak Year” for drug overdoses nationwide. The report cited 64,070 deaths in 2016 as a result of a drug overdose.

Thanks largely in part to the local Sevier County C.A.R.E.S. Coalition; Sevier County Sheriff’s Deputies now have one more tool on their duty belt to assist them in the battle against drugs and the opioid epidemic. Narcan nasal spray was made available to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office through a state grant program. The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services acquired the product and distribution was made available to local law enforcement through Sevier County C.A.R.E.S.

The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office has trained and issued the Narcan nasal spray to all Sevier County Sheriff’s Deputies and School Resource Officers.

Sheriff Seals said within the first 24 hours after the training was complete, a Sheriff’s Deputy successfully administered the Narcan nasal spray and revived a person who was in critical distress following a suspected drug overdose.

“We are extremely fortunate to have this partnership with Sevier County C.A.R.E.S,” said Sheriff Ronald L. Seals. “This opportunity has already proven to be directly responsible for saving lives. The numbers recently released regarding overdose deaths are sickening and my hope is that together as a community, we continue to be proactive and make positive changes.”

This beneficial grant program provides the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office with the lifesaving treatment to an opioid overdose, which most likely would have been too expensive to obtain otherwise. Symptoms of an opioid overdose may be a faint pulse, severe sleepiness, sudden breathing problems, pale and clammy skin, unconsciousness, and could lead to death. Often times, these overdoses are discovered in homes or on our roadways and law enforcement are the first responders to arrive.