Billings police to carry drug to reverse opiate overdoses

BILLINGS – Billings police officers will now be carrying Narcan, a drug capable of reversing opiate overdoses, while on patrol.

In a Facebook post, the department noted that officers are often the first responders to an overdose call and often exposed to dangerous and potent drugs.

Previously, officers had to wait for medical responders to arrive, and carrying this drug will save time, the department said.

“Law enforcement is often viewed as the ones who show up to take people to jail. We are not going to arrest our way out of this problem. This is part of our effort to help with a comprehensive approach to our community drug problem to reduce overall impact,” Billings police wrote in the post.

Officers must undergo training before they will carry Narcan.

Narcan is the only FDA-approved drug used for opiate overdoses. It’s designed for first responders.