By John Dobberstein, Editor
The Broken Arrow Police Department says it is seeing an increase in Fentanyl overdoses and Narcan deployments.
The department had 13 Narcan deployments in 2021, and 9 were between Thanksgiving and the New Year.
A contributing factor is how the drug is being distributed, police say, as the drug is being found in pills that contain Fentanyl but look like other commonly used pills.
This is causing added challenges for officers, the department says, with a heightened risk for exposure, which is why officers are carrying Narcan on their person and in patrol cars.
The department says its officers are trained in how to deploy Narcan in the event of an overdose. Any exposure to the drug, even as small as 2 milligrams, can be considered lethal.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fentanyl overdoses are now the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45.
The department says citizens should only purchase their drugs from a pharmacy, and remember Narcan is available at most pharmacies as well.
Please visit the Oklahoma State Department of Health for more information.
Please watch this video with Sgt. Eric Nester to learn about the dangers of Fentanyl and the challenges Broken Arrow police officers are facing.
https://fb.watch/avr8oo3wbG/
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