AgdaPkt 2018-09-10 Joint SA PFA - Laserfiche WebLink

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6.1.D. - Page 16 authorized officers to carry naloxone. Employees in the Coroner's Office and Forensic Laboratory are also at heightened risk of accidental exposure, and are not equipped with naloxone. Despite the lack of official authorization, the risk posed by accidental synthetic opioid exposure is such that some individual County employees, including one County official, have purchased intranasal naloxone using their own funds to safeguard themselves and their colleagues. Another County official advised employees to buy their own naloxone to protect themselves. 64 Arguments against equipping law enforcement with naloxone include: The number of "rescues" that law enforcement in the County could make is uncertain, and therefore the public health benefits of officer -carry naloxone programs are uncertain. Any program comes with costs, including the "cost" of not pursuing other opportunities to enhance public safety. Additionally, there are concerns that law enforcement officers are not medical professionals and should not be relied upon to provide medical treatment to opioid overdose victims. However, the Grand Jury finds that the potential benefits of officer -carry naloxone programs outweigh these concerns. • As fentanyl derivatives continue to become more prevalent and more dangerous, it is reasonable to assume --based on "rescues" reported by other agencies --that some lives in the County will be saved if officers carry naloxone. • The costs of an officer -carry intranasal naloxone program are small; therefore the reasonably expected future benefits outweigh the costs. • Narcan (which is administered intranasally) is not intravenous naloxone --administration does not require an IV, shot, or other medical procedure. Law enforcement agencies in California and nationwide who have already implemented an officer -carry Narcan program recognize that trained officers are fully capable of administering this safe, fast acting, and effective drug. • By equipping officers with Narcan, San Mateo County is not pioneering a new program. Rather, the County will be following the recommendations of federal agencies and a White House commission by implementing a program that has already been put in place by over 1,200 police agencies nationwide. Those who survive an overdose are still in considerable danger. Continuous care, readily accessible, medically assisted treatment for overdose patients, ongoing community education and diligent oversight is essential to protect residents and County personnel from the effects of the opioid epidemic. Equipping officers to carry naloxone is a necessary first step. 64 Grand Jury Interviews with law enforcement leadership. 2017-2018 San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury 11