Gloversville police are providing a good example of what it means to protect and serve.
We hope all of our local police departments follow that example.
Gloversville police officers were recently certified to carry narcan, which can reverse an opioid overdose, and have already had to use the drug on someone.
Gloversville Police Chief Donald VanDeusen said officers responded to a residence early Tuesday after receiving a report of an unconscious person. Officers found an unresponsive 33-year-old man inside the home, he said, and gave him two shots of the drug to bring him back to full consciousness.
In June 2014, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law legislation that makes the anti-overdose drug naloxone, known commercially as narcan, available to police and other first responders in the state. The drug can prevent overdose deaths related to the use of opiates, including heroin, hydrocodone and oxycodone. The drug, which can be given through an injection or by using a nasal spray, blocks the effects of opiates, relieving dangerous symptoms that are caused by high levels of opiates in the blood.
It would be a mistake for people to assume drugs are a problem only for large cities. Illegal drugs are a problem for every community, including our area.
The step the Gloversville police have taken is a sensible, helpful way for officers to serve the community – and potentially save lives.
We hope more police departments will look into using the drug.
