Although heroin is not a common concern at the University of Central Florida, the UCF Police Department wants to be prepared in all situations.
Fifteen UCFPD officers were trained Friday on how to recognize symptoms of a drug overdose and administer a drug called Naloxone.
Naloxone reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, most commonly heroin.
“Heroin isn’t a major issue at UCF, but the drug’s rising popularity across Central Florida means that it could become one. UCF is committed to being prepared for the inevitable and working with partners off campus to foster an environment where students can be safe and succeed,” UCFPD spokesperson Courtney Gilmartin said.
UCF Health Services held the training in collaboration with UCFPD. The police department received a grant that allowed the university to get 150 doses at no cost.
Medical expert Todd Husty told WESH that the drug is “highly effective and has little risk, except that coming off a high can be agonizing.”
The drug is administered in a shot, much like an EpiPen.
All officers are planned to carry the drug in 2016.
