As the opioid epidemic increases, police risk the threat of accidentally overdosing from the exposure of dealing with such powerful substances.
On May 19, When Cpl. Kevin Phillips pulled up to the scene of an opioid overdose in a Maryland residence to administer the overdose-reversing agent, Narcan, it wasn’t hard for him to uncover an abundance of illegal substances. He didn’t realize that moments after being exposed to the high potency drugs, that he himself would be the one in need of the opioid antidote.
“My face felt like it was burning. I felt extremely light-headed. I felt like I was getting dizzy,” Phillips said. “I stood there for two seconds and thought, ‘Oh my God, I didn’t just get exposed to something.’ I just kept thinking about the carfentanil.”
Just hours earlier, Phillips received an e-mail from his boss, Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler, describing the dangers of dealing with carfentanil, the powerful drug that is so strong, it has been used to tranquilize elephants. The sheriff warned the police officers to be extremely cautious when dealing with drug scenes.
A single particle of carfentanil is so dangerous that simply touching it can trigger an overdose as it is easily absorbed through skin contact and inhalation, Gahler said.
Because of the high potency of carfentanil and fentanyl and their growing prevalence as the deadliest drug epidemic in the United States, those who are tasked with saving the lives of addicts and investigating drug scenes are now increasingly at risk.
Police departments around the U.S. are arming their officers with Narcan in order to treat overdoses. Now, some first responders have had to use it on their colleagues and even themselves due to accidentally overdosing.
After the paramedic administered Phillips’ Narcan, she felt sick moments after and was treated for the drug exposure.
Like Phillips, an Ohio officer was treated with several doses of Narcan earlier this month after wiping away drug residue with his bare hand at a drug scene. In Hartford, Conn., 11 Swat officers were revived last fall when a flash-bang grenade blasted particles of heroin and fentanyl into the air.
After Phillips’ eye-opening experience, Gahler has now spent $5,000 on 100 kits that include protective gear for police officers to wear while they enter drug scenes.
“This is all a game-changer for us in law enforcement,” Gahler said.
