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This article was published 7 year(s) and 9 month(s) ago

Swampscott raises OD awareness

Gayla Cawley

October 8, 2017 by Gayla Cawley

SWAMPSCOTT — Increasing the availability of Narcan, or naloxone, the lifesaving overdose drug, and increasing access to education on the opioid blocker is under serious consideration by several town officials.

β€œThe police are the only ones that administer it (Narcan) and provide (information) at this point,” said Peter Spellios, a member of the Board of Selectmen. β€œIncreasing availability of Narcan is possible and I want our town to explore ways to do that beyond just working with the police department.

β€œOur police have done a great job with education, outreach and saving lives,” Spellios continued. β€œWe have a great Board of Health too. Gargi Cooper, a member of our School Committee and a healthcare professional, is playing an important role in pushing this. I am hopeful that we can make Narcan more available and save lives.”

Spellios said he is interested in learning whether the town, through its health department, can give out Narcan for later use during an overdose, which would be administered by the person who received it from that department.

Spellios said some people may be uncomfortable having to go to law enforcement to get Narcan and become educated about it in town. He said there may be something that can happen more officially through the health department and town nurse, and he was interested in exploring other avenues outside the police department.

β€œWe are not immune to overdoses,” Spellios said. β€œThe stats on overdoses in Swampscott and deaths, ODs, show you that we are not immune.”

In Swampscott this year, there have been 13 overdoses, with two fatalities. Most overdoses have come from heroin and other opioids. In 2016, there were 27 overdoses, with six fatalities. In 2015, there were 16 overdoses and three were fatal, according to statistics provided by Police Chief Ronald Madigan.

β€œI will support having the town provide Narcan,” said Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald. β€œOur highest obligation is to protect the lives of the citizens in Swampscott and any family that has been touched by substance abuse or lost a loved one to substance abuse should have any and all support from the community, and if we can do more, we should.

β€œThere are communities that have seen opportunities to support families in a way that addresses the stigma of substance abuse. There are folks that still feel shame (and are) embarrassed reaching out (and) getting help, but what we want is folks to recognize that Narcan can save lives and can help protect families from the tragedy of losing a loved one during an illness. And we want to make sure that folks get that information and they get the care and support that they need to help protect their loved ones.”

Cooper, a nurse practitioner at Lynn Community Health Center, held an education table at the Farmer’s Market on the Town Hall lawn on Sunday morning. People were able to learn about nasal Narcan, how to obtain a kit and the signs of an overdose.

Narcan is available through pharmacies, such as CVS, in town and neighboring communities. When someone goes to a pharmacy to request a kit, they have to be trained on how to use Narcan. People don’t need a prescription to obtain it, Cooper said. β€œIt’s just super accessible and I think it’s important that people know that.”

The town already has an Overdose Response Team, formed by the police department in 2016, and includes town and school officials such as Fitzgerald, Naomi Dreeben, chairwoman of the Board of Selectmen and Superintendent Pamela Angelakis, and emergency personnel, including Madigan, Detective Rose Cheever and Fire Chief Kevin Breen.

Madigan said within the past two years, all officers have been equipped with Narcan, and that there’s been a cultural change in the police department to view addiction as a medical problem.

β€œWe have engaged in training for our officers all with the goal of reducing the stigma that exists for people struggling with addiction,” Madigan said. β€œI think we’ve made really good strides. Ultimately, our goal is for the police department to be viewed as being helpful and a collaborative partner in the community to combat addiction.”

For a town the size of Swampscott, Madigan said overdoses are higher than where they should be, but that Narcan has helped reduce fatalities.

β€œIn my opinion, fatal overdoses would be much higher if not for the advent of the accessibility of Narcan,” Madigan said. β€œNo question, Narcan has been a lifesaver.”

In some cases, during an overdose response, officers are being exposed to stronger synthetic opioids like fentanyl. He said Narcan may have to be administered to an officer who is exposed while responding to the area. Over the summer, he said a Hazmat team had to be called in during an overdose response involving fentanyl.

Madigan said more Narcan is being administered by police responding to an overdose — in many cases since 2015, the drug is being administered three times. Since police started carrying Narcan, he said the dispensed doses have doubled from 2 to 4 mg. The protocol now is to give people larger doses and multiple doses have been required to revive people, which he said makes some wonder if the drugs are getting stronger.

β€œWe border Lynn and Lynn has got a serious problem,” Madigan said. β€œWe’ve got a fair amount of problems with overdoses and I have to say much of the crime and disorder we deal with has an underlying factor of addiction, whether it’s alcohol or drugs. It’s a problem that affects many aspects of Swampscott.”

  • Gayla Cawley
    Gayla Cawley

    Gayla Cawley is the former news editor of the Daily Item. She joined The Item as a reporter in 2015. The University of Connecticut graduate studied English and Journalism. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley.

    View all posts

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