Toccoa Police, Fire to Carry Naloxone

The Toccoa Police and Fire Departments will soon be carrying a drug that can help save someone’s life if they are overdosing on opioids.

Monday, Toccoa City Commissioners unanimously approved a second reading of a resolution approving the administration of naloxone by the Toccoa Police and Fire Departments.

City commissioners approved the first reading of this resolution at their last meeting in September.

Toccoa City Manager Billy Morse said this is the final reading of that resolution in order for it to take effect.

“This resolution would state that the city commission finds it in the public interest to authorize the Toccoa Police Department and Fire Department to use and have available (naloxone) under approved guidelines and subject to undergoing comprehensive and approved training,” said Morse.

Under the proposal, Toccoa would receive a grant that would purchase of Naloxone and provide training for police and fire on how to properly administer the drug.

Naloxone is a drug that could help save the life of someone who has overdosed on opioids like heroin and morphine by temporarily blocking their effects.

The grant is through an effort called Project DAN, which stands for Deaths Avoided By Naloxone, and is administered by the Medical Association of Georgia.

Project DAN Training Coordinator Ruben Black said agencies including the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, Lavonia Police Department, and Habersham County Sheriff’s Office are already equipping their officers with Naloxone.

Toccoa Police Chief Tim Jarrell said with the abundance of opioid drugs within a community, it creates the opportunity for their misuse and Toccoa, as a community, should be prepared in case an incident was to occur.

Each police officer would be equipped with a dose through the grant, as would each Toccoa Fire Department truck.