Police officers in Salem, Massachusetts and in a growing amount of departments across the country are now carrying a new weapon.
Narcan, a powerful drug that can reverse a heroin overdose, has unfortunately become routine for officers.
"I think initially it was like, 'oh what are we taking on and doing,'" said Salem Police Chief Mary Butler.
In Salem, Narcan has been used 93 times since January of this year — and that's just by police. And in order for the drug to pull someone out of an overdose, sometimes several doses are needed. It also doesn't save everyone.
Out of the 103 overdose calls that have come in this year, police said 10 people have died.
"It's rampant, it's not discriminating," said Rochelle Leblanc, who lost her son Aarron. "It doesn't care who you are, what race you are, what religion you are, what sex. Whatever."
Aaron LeBlanc was one of those overdoses that police could not help.
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And in nearby Haverhill, Narcan also couldn't save 23-year-old Kelsey Endicott.
"I believe my father Narcaned her three times and it just was too late," said Kelsey's sister.
Police said they also see the same people more than once — with about 10 percent of the cases being repeat calls.
In both Kelsey and Aaron's obituaries, their families chose to acknowledge heroin addiction as what killed them, something many families don't do.
