EXCLUSIVE: VIDEO & PHOTOS: About 20 police officers yesterday were the first from the Lakewood Police Department to be trained for the use of Narcan – the antidote which can reverse the effects of a Heroin overdose patient.
Representatives from nearly all the police departments in the state were trained by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office over about a two week period, enabling the them to further conduct training within their respective departments.
The Lakewood Police class, coordinated by Training Sergeant Rob Shimonovich and given by Instructor Officer Sherry Jones, consisted of a power-point presentation about the antidote, as well as a hands-on training with the item.
Narcan, a nasal spray sprayed into a victim at the brink of death, was introduced in New Jersey by Prosecutor Joseph Coronato in response to the massive number of Heroin overdose victims.
Since the introduction , Governor Christie has announced the formal launch of the initiative for Ocean and Monmouth Counties, and has also granted a waiver which will allow for EMTs to administer the antidote. [TLS]