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Life-saving drug that fights Heroin overdoses available, but not leaving shelves

Consumers can now buy a potentially life-saving drug, that can revive someone who is overdosing on heroin or other Opioids. But  people aren’t buying it. ...

Consumers can now buy a potentially life-saving drug, that can revive someone who is overdosing on heroin or other Opioids. But  people aren't buying it. Police can also carry it, but so far in York County they don't have it.

Last year more than 60 people died of heroin overdoses in York County. "That's over three times the amount of heroin deaths than the year before. It certainly is an epidemic and this is something that we are fighting every day," said York County Assistant District Attorney Dave Sunday.

A drug called Narcan can help. As a mist when it is sprayed up a person's nose, Narcan can reverse the course of the overdose and revive them.   In January, Pennsylvania law made Narcan widely available to families and people dealing with an addiction to opiates.
But so far the drug is staying on pharmacy shelves.

Lynford King, Owner and Pharmacist at the Medicine Shoppe can easily fill a prescription for Narcan, but so far he hasn't had any requests.

"I think it's just a matter of awareness. people aren't aware that there is something like this available," said King. "Family members can keep that on hand in the house for people they are concerned with opiate overdose."

Stigma may also be playing a role. " There is a stigma with heroin use and this isn't just for the Narcan part of it. Generally people are very secretive of that fact that they may have an issue with someone in their family being addicted to heroin," said Sunday.

Sunday helped found the Heroin Task Force in York County and has been working to equip police with Narcan. As with any new law, he said it takes time.

"It takes a little time to work it out. This is something new for police officers, this is something new for the District Attorney's office, it's new for the community. We are very close to having it in the hands of police officers, we are working on it every day, and we anticipate it happening very soon," said Sunday.

 

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