Staten Island, NY – As part of an NYPD pilot program aimed at combating an excessively high rate in the borough, Staten Island offers will begin carrying a nasal spray capable of reversing the effects of opioid overdoses.
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SILIVE.com (http://bit.ly/18BcnFj) reports that Mayor Bloomberg made the announcement Friday, stating that the program is part of the RxStat initiative, a prescription painkiller tracking program made possible through a grant from the Department of Justice.
“In the critical fight against prescription drug abuse New York City has, again, been recognized as a leader for our innovative solutions to complex problems,” Bloomberg said. “Working together, public health and safety agencies are targeting resources to better understand the nature and extent of the problem while also recognizing the role these painkillers play when responsibly prescribed and used.”
According to records, Staten Island’s mortality rate from prescription opioids such as oxycodone, Vicodin, and Percocet, is 7.4 per 100,000, nearly three times higher than the rest of the city.
The spray contains Naloxone, an opiate antagonist which counters the effects of opiate overdoses, and will be carried by officers trained in administering it.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said, “Equipping officers to administer naloxone to overdose victims may mean the difference between life or death for those addicted to prescription painkillers.”
Darwin spoke of the survival of the fittest. Those who use drugs are not the fittest and nature will take it’s course.
What I respect about Bloomberg is his open-minded approach on many challenging social policies. A conservative mayor in another city would dismiss any attempts from curbing unnecessary deaths because “it’s just junkies” attitude. Naloxone nasal spray is similar to how Narcan works. But Narcan is IV administered and only Paramedics are allowed to possess and administer it which takes more time to administer critical care. I hope this DOJ project is a success and they create good prevention and treatment programs to curb rising drug addictions on S.I. and everywhere.
“I wonder what you would say if it were YOUR’RE family member!”
I would then say that can’t speak English.