415 – Naloxone-Narcan Program
I. Purpose
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) has established a Naloxone / Narcan training program and a procedure for administering Naloxone / Narcan in an effort to treat employees or citizens suffering from apparent opioid exposure.
Naloxone (sold under the brand name “Narcan,” among others) is a medication used to block the effects of opioids, especially in overdose situations. Naloxone / Narcan is a pure opioid antagonist. It works by reversing the depression of the central nervous system and respiratory system caused by opioids.
II. Policy
HCSO employees shall provide emergency assistance to any person who appears or is believed to be suffering from an opioid-related overdose or any other opioid-related exposure. All personnel administering this emergency assistance shall also ensure their own safety.
Texas Health and Safety Code, Section 483.106: “Administration of Opioid Antagonist,” states:
A. A person who, acting in good faith and with reasonable care, administers or does not administer an opioid antagonist to another person whom the person believes is suffering an opioid-related drug overdose is not subject to criminal prosecution, sanction under any professional licensing statute, or civil liability for an act or omission resulting from the administration of or failure to administer the opioid antagonist.
B. Emergency services personnel are authorized to administer an opioid antagonist to a person who appears to be suffering an opioid-related drug overdose, as clinically indicated
III. Procedure
A. In the event of a possible opioid exposure or overdose to an employee or other citizen, personnel who have been trained in the use of Naloxone / Narcan may administer Naloxone / Narcan in accordance with their training.
B. After treatment, the employee shall immediately summon medical personnel to treat the victim.
C. The employee administering the Naloxone / Narcan shall remain with the affected person to monitor his or her condition and administer follow-up treatment if necessary until relieved by medical personnel.
D. After the arrival of medical personnel, the employee who administered the Naloxone / Narcan shall notify his or her immediate supervisor.
E. Supervisor responsibilities following Naloxone / Narcan use:
1. Ensure the affected person is transported to a hospital for follow-up care,
2. Ensure the substance to which the treated person was exposed is collected for testing (if any remains) and that the scene is rendered safe,
3. Complete a written notification through the chain of command to the chief deputy, and
4. Ensure that an “overdose” incident report is completed with complete details of the event:
a. Name of the overdose victim;
b. Witness names, addresses, phone numbers, etc.;
c. Overdose symptoms exhibited by the victim;
d. The time Naloxone / Narcan was administered;
e. The number of doses of Naloxone / Narcan administered; and
f. The condition of the overdose victim when EMS arrived.
5. In the case of an employee exposure, gather the facts of the exposure and complete the appropriate injury on duty and exposure documentation.
IV. Training
A. Select personnel throughout the department who are likely to come into contact with opioids will be provided training on the use of Naloxone / Narcan. The Naloxone / Narcan Control Unit (NCU) shall coordinate all training, control, and issuance of Naloxone / Narcan kits to HCSO personnel.
B. Once training has been completed, personnel may be issued Naloxone / Narcan kits based upon their specific assignments.
C. HCSO personnel issued a Naloxone / Narcan kit shall ensure the kit is properly cared for and maintained in a state of operational readiness as outlined in the Naloxone / Narcan training program.
D. Naloxone / Narcan shall be available for warrant executions and other investigations as deemed appropriate.
V. Storage and Inventory
A. The NCU shall maintain an inventory and control of all Naloxone / Narcan kits assigned to HCSO personnel.
B. The Naloxone / Narcan kit should be protected from light and stored between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
1. Naloxone / Narcan kits shall not be left in parked, non-running vehicles where high temperatures will damage the product.
2. Naloxone / Narcan kits shall be removed from an employee’s assigned county vehicle at the end of his or her tour of duty and kept in a safe, environmentally-controlled location such as an office locker or in the employee’s home.
C. Naloxone / Narcan should be stored in the carton until contents are used.
1. Naloxone / Narcan should be discarded if the product contains any particulate matter, is cloudy, or appears discolored.
2. If the Naloxone / Narcan product has been damaged, lost, or stolen, the employee shall notify the NCU and generate an incident report as per HCSO Department Policy #241 – County Property.
3. The NCU will be responsible for the destruction of any unused, out of date, or damaged Naloxone / Narcan products.
Revision
This policy has been revised on the below listed dates:
AUGUST 3, 2017
May 4, 2021