The executive branch of the nine state police departments will be supplied with naloxone nasal sprays as needed. The drug is used as an antidote for poisoning with opioids such as fentanyl and is part of the equipment of US police forces.
In Austria, departments specialized in drug control are now also receiving the spray bottles, the Ministry of the Interior confirms.
50 times stronger than heroin
Fentanyl is considered about 50 times more powerful than heroin and accidental exposure can have serious consequences, including breathing problems. “Inhaling large quantities in particular poses a danger,” the ministry said. But skin contact can also pose a risk.
Most common cause of death for 18 to 49 year olds in the US
In the United States, plagued by the opioid crisis, the drug is now the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 18 and 49. The New York Police Department, as well as numerous authorities from other US states, among others, have years of experience in dealing with naloxone.
The situation in Austria is different from the US, as Daniel Lichtenegger, drug coordinator at the Ministry of the Interior and head of the central office for combating drug-related crime at the Federal Criminal Police Office, explains. “But of course we want to be prepared so that we don’t fall behind.”
Project started at the end of 2023
According to the Interior Ministry, naloxone sprays have already been purchased or are about to be purchased “in all states.” “The safety of police officers is a priority in the field,” a spokeswoman explains the reason for the project, which started at the end of 2023.
The sprays are effective as an immediate countermeasure in the event of an overdose of pure opioids and their use is intended as part of first aid measures in emergency situations. The police officers in question were already trained for this last summer by the Chief Medical Service of the Ministry of the Interior. “If the nasal spray is used, further care or treatment by rescuers is necessary,” the report said.
No specific figures are given
Specific figures for the sprays were not given due to “the needs-based purchasing of individual state police departments.” However, priority wards should be equipped with naloxone in the first place. In this context, the ministry mentioned the drug crime investigation areas in the State Criminal Investigation Bureau (LKA) and the Federal Criminal Investigation Department, the Task Forces for Combating Street Crime (EGS), district-level departments, forensic examination centers and access forces.
“The agent will be stored at the offices according to proper storage instructions and taken during operations if necessary,” the ministry said. However, no operation has yet taken place across Austria.
Source: Krone
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