Mass. Heroin Overdose Kits Have Saved 1,000 Lives

Massachusetts public health officials say a program to distribute medicine for heroin addicts to take in case of an overdose has helped prevent more than 1,000 overdose deaths in four years.

Officials say more than 10,000 people have enrolled in the pilot program which trains them in the use of the nasal spray known as Narcan.

There have been more than 1,000 reports of Narcan being used to save lives by reversing overdoses since 2007.

Narcan is designed to block the effects of opioids, such as heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone, Fentanyl, codeine and methadone.

The program makes the drug available to opiate users as well as their family and friends.

Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray says Narcan has proven to be a powerful tool in helping drug addicts receive treatment and begin to recover.