New Hampshire Eases Rules for Giving Anti-Overdose Drug Narcan

New Hampshire Department of Safety officials are offering police officers an 8-hour training course so they can administer life-saving doses of Narcan to people who overdose on heroin and other opioids.

Officials said Thursday that the state has seen a spike in heroin overdoses in recent years and Narcan use doubled in 2014 over the previous year.

Until now, only EMTs with 100 hours of training could administer Naloxone - better known by its trademark Narcan - to counter opioid overdoses.

Officials said the training course is voluntary and includes first aid and CPR as well as a Narcan-specific component on how to administer the nasal spray antidote and monitor an overdose victim's reactions.

State fire and emergency services officials said the training program is available immediately. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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