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?
Jon Collins

First responders use Narcan to counteract opioid overdoses

Naloxone, a.k.a. Narcan, may stop an overdose
As opioid overdoses have increased across the United States, access to naloxone, also known as Narcan, has increased.
William Lager | MPR News graphic File

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

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

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office says first responders in cities outside of Minneapolis used an antidote to successfully counteract an opioid overdose 50 times since early 2016.

In response to rising opioid overdose deaths in Hennepin County, firefighters or police officers in all 45 small cities and towns now carry naloxone, also known as Narcan, that can reverse an overdose by an opioid, which includes heroin, fentanyl or prescription painkillers.

Preliminary numbers in Hennepin County show at least 162 opioid overdose deaths last year, although the sheriff's office expects that number to rise as more toxicology results are processed. The early numbers represent an almost 50 percent increase since 2015.

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office was the first law enforcement agency in the state to equip officers with naloxone since a 2014 state law permitted it.

Sheriff Richard Stanek said his office has been working with police and fire departments across the county to help them equip their own officers with naloxone.

"Now, we're starting to fire on all cylinders. Educators, business people, elected officials, law enforcement [and] average citizens are getting engaged, becoming aware of hazards of opioid overdose," Stanek said. "They're doing something about it."

About 400 Minnesotans died of opioid overdoses in 2016. The number of people killed by opioid overdoses has increased steadily across the United States for the last decade and a half.