Hospital donates heroin overdose antidote to county's police

ANDERSON, Ind. (AP) - A central Indiana hospital is outfitting every law enforcement officer in its county with an emergency antidote for heroin overdoses.

Community Hospital Anderson announced recently it will donate dosages for the drug Narcan to each police officer in Madison County. The hospital will also train the officers in how to recognize situations when the drug needs to be used and how to administer it.

The Herald Bulletin reports (http://bit.ly/1P1sxiua ) the program includes Madison County sheriff's deputies and officers from departments in Anderson, Alexandria, Elwood and other communities. Only officers who patrol regularly will be trained and carry Narcan.

A new law the Indiana General Assembly adopted this year allows firefighters and police officers to carry Narcan and administer it under a sponsoring physician's medical license.

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Information from: The Herald Bulletin, http://www.theheraldbulletin.com