Colorado will buy 2,500 Naloxone kits to combat opiate overdose fatalities

AP_LOGO_02
Associated Press

DENVER (AP) — The attorney general’s office says it’s buying 2,500 drug overdose kits to help police and emergency responders confront Colorado’s opioid epidemic.

Attorney General Cynthia Coffman announced the purchase — and training for officials in 17 counties — on Monday.

It’s part of a partnership with police, Denver Health and other groups fighting a crisis that’s seen more than 6,900 drug overdose deaths in Colorado since 2006. Those deaths involve both heroin and opioid prescription drugs.

Nearly $265,000 will be used to buy kits of Narcan — a nasal form of the drug Naloxone that reverses overdoses.

The funds come from settlements with pharmaceutical firms that are dedicated to public health programs.

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