Rebecca R. Gibbs, Herald Bulletin
ELWOOD — About a month ago, Elwood firefighters — 19 of whom also are trained as emergency medical technicians — were called to three heroin overdose incidents in which two people died in a six-day period.
Recognizing the need to be proactive, Elwood Fire Department officials approached Dr. Martha McAndrews at St. Vincent Mercy Hospital, with whom they have a partnership for protocols revolving around emergency medical services.
She connected the fire department with Dr. Michael Kaufmann, medical director of Emergency Medical Services at St. Vincent Health System in Indianapolis. One of the first physicians in the nation to be board certified in emergency medical services, he provided training to the firefighters in the use of naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan.
“It’s not going to kill anyone if you give it to them, but it will save quite a few lives,” said Elwood Assistant Fire Chief Mark Sullivan.
Madison County law enforcement and emergency management agencies are among a growing number in the state and nation interested in making Narcan available to be administered by any properly trained staff.
Injected or inhaled, the drug keeps opioids such as heroin or prescription painkillers from slowing a person’s breathing to the point that it stops. Supporters of more widespread access say the drug buys critical time to get overdose patients to a hospital.
Last week, the Legislature passed a law allowing medical professionals to distribute the drug — without fear of prosecution — to family and friends of addicts to use in cases of overdoses. That came a year after lawmakers cleared the way for police and other emergency crews to carry and use the drug, which was long limited to hospitals.
Officials from the Anderson, Lapel and Elwood police departments confirmed their officers do not yet carry naloxone. For most, the primary obstacle now is cost.
For instance, officials with the Columbus Police Department recently reported the nasal spray form of the spray, which is what will be used in Elwood, has doubled from $18 to $36 since they bought their first dose in January.
A new-wave version of naloxone, contained in an auto-injection device similar to the EpiPen injectors used for allergic reactions, sells for $300 to $600 per dose. Pharmacies are likely to stock that version under the new law since it requires no training to use, lawmakers said.
Some law enforcement agencies have been able to acquire naloxone with the help of grants. But those in Madison County have not been so lucky.
“We applied for a grant in January, and we were not successful, which is disappointing because the grant would’ve provided Narcan and training for every law enforcement agency in Madison County, with the exception of any agency opting out. We are still looking for an opportunity,” said Madison County Sheriff Scott Mellinger.
State Sen. Jim Merritt, R-Indianapolis, who carried both last year’s and this year’s naloxone legislation, said the state can’t afford to let price become an issue.
He hopes to secure federal funds to offset costs — for emergency responders as well as families of addicts. He’s working with the founder of the nonprofit Overdose-Lifeline, Justin Phillips, whose 20-year-old son, Aaron, died of a heroin overdose in 2013.
Merritt says naxolone saved more than 1,000 lives in Indiana last year. He’s convinced Aaron’s life could have been saved, too, had the drug been more readily available.
The measure that allows families and friends of addicts to access the drug — which took effect as soon as Gov. Mike Pence signed it last week — is called “Aaron’s Law.”
“We’ve got a crisis throughout this state,” Merritt said. “We’ve got heroin and prescription drug abuse in every city, big and small, and in every rural community in this state.”
Capt. Michael Barnes of the Lapel Police Department said his department has been approached by medical representatives of an undisclosed organization hoping to persuade the use of Narcan among its officers.
“We have indicated we support the idea and would be interested in being involved in the program,” he said. “We do support the idea of providing that kind of training and the use of Narcan as the use of heroin is rising.”
CNHI Statehouse Reporter Maureen Hayden contributed to this report.