JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
Chief Kenneth Seagraves of the Powells Crossroads Police Department has recently shared the department’s current standing with receiving and utilizing Narcan nasal spray for those suffering from opioid overdoses.
Seagraves, while sharing police reports during the community’s public meeting, explained how the police department is in good standings with its usage of Narcan medication to help those suffering from opioid overdoses. He stated how he’s recently become an official distributor of Narcan under the Hamilton County Coalition. The Hamilton County Coalition is a non-profit organization out of nearby Chattanooga that helps to educate and provide support for drug and alcohol overdose prevention across 10 counties within Southeastern Tennessee, including Marion County.
As the discussion continued, Chief Seagraves explained how the department is supplied between 10 to 15 cases of Narcan annually from the coalition, with recent grants from the state further supporting the department’s goal of helping those at high risk of opioid overdoses. One way this is done is through the provision of opioid reversal kits. The reversal kits help to provide naloxone and other medication to treat an overdose, while also with information on what and where a victim of an overdose can seek further treatment.
“When I go to these high risk drug raids, we interact with people that are using opioids. So we can go ahead and give it to them, and the coalition will come in anytime we need them and they’ll provide training,” explained Seagraves.
However, Kenneth also stated that the use of xylazine has been on the rise, with Narcan itself unable to reverse the effects of the drug. Xylazine is a non-opioid sedative utilized by veterinarians for large animals such as cattle and horses. In recent times, though, the drug has also been mixed with other substances such as fentanyl and cocaine, causing several side effects when taken. Side effects can range from severe drops in breathing and blood pressure, to skin wounds and severe anxiety if taken excessively.
“Its not an opioid, so if we get expose to it there’s nothing that we can do,” stated Kenneth.
Despite the rise in xylazine, the department is determined to continue providing help to those suffering from opioid overdoses in the ongoing struggle against drug addiction and overdoses.