Training To Battle Opioids

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – law enforcement officers are taking steps to protect themselves in case they inadvertently come in contact with opioids.

The Mississippi Department of Mental Health and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics joined forces to provide training to law agencies on how to administer narcan, which reverses the effects of opioid overdoses.

Instructors say the training can help officers who encounter overdose victims and it can also help keep officers safe.

“Commonly found in street drugs like heroin and we found it in methamphetamine cocaine and marijuana  So its very dangerous for law enforcement who come in contact with these drugs.  The narcan reverses the effects in case an officer is involved with an overdose,” said Eddie Hawkins, with MBN.

Legislation passed last year allows narcan to be sold without a doctor’s prescription across Mississippi.