BUPD First Campus Force To Carry Antidote For Heroin Overdose

The Boston University Police Department will be the first campus force in the nation to carry the anti-overdose drug Naloxone, or Narcan, according to BU Today.

“Since February, we have responded to approximately 8 to 12 opioid overdose medical calls for non-BU-affiliated victims,” Peter McCarron, a BUPD police officer, told BU Today

“We see this as an unfortunate epidemic in society, and we want to be able to provide the best response possible,” Scott Paré, BU's deputy director of public safety and BUPD deputy chief, told BU Today.

The decision to carry Narcan, according to Paré, was based on a recent change in state Department of Public Health regulations, which encourage first responders to have Narcan, and Gov. Deval Patrick's declaration of an opiate emergency in Massachusetts.

McCarron said the 52 members of the BUPD received training over the summer to administer the nasal spray. Each of the department's eight marked cruisers will be outfitted with two doses and more of the drug will be available at the police station.