As the prevalence of opioid abuse has increased exponentially over the past decade, local first responders — mostly police, firefighters and paramedics — have begun carrying Narcan, the chief antidote for heroin or prescription opioid overdoses.
The drug, used to potentially save the lives of overdose victims, has become a staple of first aid kits in both ambulances and squad cars.
But as the potency of heroin has evolved, so has the danger to first responders, who could end up needing Narcan for themselves during a call, or even afterward.
"We carry Narcan not only for people on the street who could overdose, but we carry if for ourselves in case of an accidental overdose," said Lt. David Wells of the St. Joseph County Drug Investigations Unit. "It's a very dangerous situation that causes a lot of concern. Especially for guys on the street."
An overdose case can be particularly dangerous to first responders if there are drugs and paraphernalia there that are toxic to touch or inhale, said Andy Myer, the EMS chief for the South Bend Fire Department. The biggest risk to first responders, Myer said, comes from an opioid called “grey death,” which is a mixture of heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil and, in some cases, prescription opioids.
Carfentanil, for example, is so powerful that it is used as a tranquilizer for elephants.
"It looks like concrete and can be injected, swallowed, smoked or snorted and is sold for 10 to 20 bucks," Myer said. "It causes severe respiratory distress."
If not handled properly, the concoction can be lethal to innocent people and emergency responders.
There have been reports of officers in other parts of the country overdosing after touching or inhaling the drug, Wells said. Therefore, additional training has been required for officers, drug investigators and lab technicians to learn how to handle suspected drugs.