Seattle Police will double its number of opioid overdose reversal kits thanks to a donation from the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative, the department announced Thursday.
The donation will put 100 more Naloxone kits in the hands of officers, according to Seattle Police Interim Chief Carmen Best.
“It is an opioid epidemic. It has been declared across the nation,” Best said. “How can we not step up and take responsibility and help on this issue? I would say that this is part what we do as a police service helping the community on a very important issue.”
Naloxone, a drug that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, can come in the form of a nasal spray or an injectable.
All Seattle Police bicycle units in downtown and the University District are equipped with Naloxone kits, and the donation will allow patrol cars to check out kits for a 24-hour period as well.
"There is a still so much to do," Best said. "This is another step to our commitment to equipping as many patrol officers as possible."
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Since Seattle Police launched its Naloxone program two years ago, 24 lives have been saved from overdose, according to Best.
Seattle Police Officer Kurt Alstrin shares the first time he administered Nalaxone two months ago, inside the bathroom of a McDonald's where a young man had overdosed on heroin.
"At first you're nervous, because it's not fast," said Alstrin. "We administer it in his nose and there is a couple minutes go by...the fire department shows up, they're getting their equipment out, and now he's coming back to life and he's gaining consciousness. And you're okay it's working in front of you. That was wonderful, that was great to see that."
"I think the biggest thing for us is that we actually know the people," said Officer Randy Jokela, who has administered the drug four times.
"It's better to do something than nothing. Instead of waiting for the fire department to get there we're actually doing something. It tears me up to think about it because all of our families have, I don't care what family you have, we all have addiction somewhere in our families," Jokela said.
Former KING 5 Evening Magazine host Penny LeGate spoke about the importance of the program. Her daughter Marah Williams died of an heroin overdose in 2012.
"Marah would say 'Mom tell them not to judge us. Tell them to drop the stigma.' If we all recognize the science it is a disease then the obstacles we've set up for treatment will go away," LeGate said.
Former Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowse is now a PAARI board member, and was present for Thursday's announcement.
