North Carolina Naloxone Law Enforcement Officer Policy

1.0  Purpose.

To establish guidelines and regulations governing utilization of naloxone (Narcan) used by XXXX Law Enforcement Department. The objective is to treat and reduce the injury and fatality from opiate overdoses.

2.0  Policy.

It is the policy of the XXXX Law Enforcement Department that all officers are required to be initially trained in the use of naloxone by North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition.

3.0  Training.

a)    Initial Training

3.a.1      All participating officers will receive initial training that will include, at minimum, a overview of 2013’s Senate Bill 20 that permits law enforcement use of naloxone, patient assessment (e.g., signs/symptoms of overdose), universal precautions, rescue breathing, seeking medical attention, and the use of intra-nasal and/or intra-muscular naloxone as detailed in the standing order. Upon completion of training, officers will have their training recorded with the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition Overdose Prevention Program Coordinator.

b)    Continuing Education

3.b.1      Officers participating in the XXXX Department’s Overdose Prevention Program will receive training refreshers during their yearly continuing education by North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition or the County Emergency Management Staff.

4.0  Naloxone Deployment.  

The XXXX Law Enforcement Department will deploy its naloxone kits in the following primary locations:

• Desk Sergeant / Booking area
• One in each patrol car & K-9 Units
• Drug Control Unit
• Law Enforcement Department Commander Office

4.1 Naloxone Use.  

When deploying the naloxone kit officers will: (1) maintain universal precautions; (2) perform patient assessment; and (3) determine unresponsiveness, absence of breathing and/or pulselessness; and (4) update the dispatcher that the patient is in potential overdose state. The dispatcher will then update the Fire Department and ambulance service if not already done to arrange transport to Emergency Department. Officers shall follow the protocol as outlined in the naloxone training in accordance with the North Carolina Harm Reduction and/or regional health authority guidelines.

4.2 Maintenance/Replacement

• First Line Maintenance

a)     An inspection of the naloxone kit shall be the responsibility of the personnel assigned the equipment and will be done each shift.

b)    Missing or damaged naloxone kits will be reported to the department naloxone coordinator.

c)     Where any condition necessitates the naloxone kit shall be taken off line and be submitted for replacement to the department naloxone coordinator.

d)    Upon administering naloxone

5.0 Documentation/Naloxone report:

Upon completing the medical assist, the officer will submit a report detailing the nature of the incident, the care the patient received and the fact that the naloxone was deployed. The report will be forwarded to the department naloxone coordinator who will then forward the data to North Carolina Harm Reduction’s Overdose Prevention Program Coordinator. These records must be completed for statistical value of the naloxone program. The document shall be retrievable via hardcopy and electronically.