Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Emma Sapong

St. Paul cops to have opioid overdose antidote on hand

Doses of naloxone hydrochloride
Doses of naloxone hydrochloride, also called Narcan, are displayed on Nov. 18, 2013.
Toby Talbot | AP 2013

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

The St. Paul Police Department is arming its officers in the ongoing battle to prevent opioid overdose deaths.

The department is teaming up with Regions Hospital Emergency Medical Services to teach officers how to administer the opioid overdose antidote, Narcan.

John Loretz, a police department executive sergeant, said the opioid epidemic is a public health problem. He said officers are often first on the scene and minutes count when there's an overdose.

"We just want to have one more tool to offer those officers to provide life saving measures," Loretz said.

The training includes administering the drug to civilians and officers who have inhaled powdered opioid that's airborne.

Full implementation of the program is slated for the year's end. So far 200 doses of the drug have been distributed to members of the force.

Dr. Bjorn Peterson said the antidote can be an effective intervention but it's not a solution to the raging opioid crisis.

"Other states like Ohio, they're saving people but they're finding that they're saving the same people over and over," Peterson said. "So this is one step toward in addressing the deaths from opioid overdoses but we still need to do more to address the opioid crisis we're dealing with."