Narcan Training
More than 40 Probation staff attended the first Naloxone Hydrochloride (Narcan) class on Nov. 6, 2020, where they learned the importance of this simple tool that has life-saving potential. Fentanyl overdosing has plagued the country for the past three years and has made its way to California. It is important to the Department to ensure the safety of its officers and the community. Our response is to train officers to carry Narcan on a voluntary basis.
During the two-hour training, taught by Dr. Neeki and the Probation medical staff, officers learned how a drug overdose effects the body and participated in a hands-on exercise simulating the administration of Narcan.
“This is important, given that Probation is truly integrated into the community and supervises many high-risk individuals with a background in substance dependency,” Dr. Neeki said. “You get various types of education throughout your career, this education translates to saving someone’s life.”
Narcan, a drug that reverses opioid overdose effects, is voluntary for officers to carry but can be a lifesaving tool. It is proven to be the best action for the immediate preservation of life for anyone displaying symptoms of an opioid overdose.
Probation Officer II Vicky Whitworth, who is on the HOPE Team, knows first-hand how important it is to carry Narcan. She was in the field when she came across an unconscious probationer and started performing life-saving efforts. When the ambulance arrived, paramedics administered Narcan and the probationer survived.
“Everybody should have it,” said Whitworth. She attended the training class and learned just how easy it is to administer the drug. “It reassures you that you can save a life.”
Narcan classes will be offered every Friday through the end of the year at the Training Center.
