Minnesota Law Now Requires Officers To Carry Naloxone

MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR) — Police officers in Moorhead must now carry Naloxone while on duty.

It is a life-saving medicine that can reverse an overdose from heroin, fentanyl and prescription opioid medications.

A new state law went into effect on August 1st that requires all on-duty police in Minnesota to carry two doses of Naloxone, also known as Narcan, and be trained on using it.

Moorhead police have been consulting with medical professionals on the use of Naloxone. The department had plans to eventually carry the drug for the past couple of years.

Last year, Moorhead police responded to 36 drug overdoses, six were fatal.

The department said 72 percent of the overdoses, including two fatal ones, likely involved fentanyl.