More than 800 overdoses have been reported in Washington County over the last four years, according to the Washington County Wellness Initiative.  

 

According to the initiative, 71 people died from accidental overdose in Washington County between 2007 and 2015. Fifty of those involved prescription drugs and 42 involved prescription painkillers. 

 

Bartlesville Police Detective Jim Warring says the department  is seeing more deaths locally from opioid drug use.  

 

Bartlesville police have been equipped with the narcotic antagonist, Narcan to be able to help in emergency situations.  Chief Tom Holland said the decision to issue Narcan to BPD officers was an easy one.

 

Holland says Bartlesville Police Department joins a long list of law enforcement agencies in Oklahoma that are now issuing Narcan to their officers.  

 

In an effort to help stop the death toll from climbing, all Bartlesville Police Department officers were recently issued the drug kits.  Narcan has proven to be safe and easy to administer, and is responsible for saving countless lives.