Groveland Police Department
Jeffrey Gillen, Deputy Chief
Public Safety Building
181 Main St
Groveland, MA 01834

For Immediate Release

Monday, Oct. 31, 2016

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Groveland Police Now Carrying Nasal Narcan in all Cruisers

GROVELAND – Deputy Chief Jeffrey Gillen announces that the Groveland Police Department is now carrying nasal Naloxone in all cruisers to better equip officers when they respond to reported drug overdoses.

Naloxone, otherwise known as Narcan, is an antagonist that quickly reverses the effects of opioids by displacing the drug from the receptors in the brain. It is effective against heroin, Fentanyl, oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet) and hydrocodone (Vicodin). Narcan has minimal side effects, is not dangerous if administered to a person who is not overdosing, and has no potential for abuse.

Opioid overdoses are currently one of the leading causes of death in Massachusetts and no community is immune to the problem. Former Governor Deval Patrick declared it a public health crisis last year.

Following support and advocacy from the previous and current Board of Selectmen, Groveland police officers received training and are now licensed to carry and administer Narcan.

Deputy Chief Gillen would like to thank and acknowledge Dr. Daniel Muse of Brockton Hospital, who provided licensing for the program.

“Dr. Muse has been instrumental in getting our program off the ground, and his commitment and support to law enforcement is so important in helping Groveland address the nation’s current opioid epidemic,” Deputy Gillen said. “As police officers, we are often the first to arrive at a scene of a reported drug overdose. It is imperative that we are equipped with Narcan at all times to save more lives.” 

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Groveland Police Now Carrying Nasal Narcan in all Cruisers
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