Advertisement Boston University police to carry Narcan for heroin overdoses BU first campus in country to require antidote drug in every cruiser Share Shares Copy Link Copy

It's a first-in-the nation campus effort in Boston to fight heroin overdoses.Watch the reportWhat's been called a "heroin epidemic" spurred the Boston University campus police to carry a controversial drug that can save the lives of heroin users.Boston University Deputy Chief of Police Scott Pare said he's seen problems with heroin and opiate overdoses within Boston University lines."We began seeing overdoses in the medical campus area and Commonwealth Avenue. Since February, we've received eight to 12 calls," said Pare.None of those overdoses involved Boston University students or staff. But they did occur on campus.Now the entire 54-person BU force will have Narcan in their first aid kits. It's an antidote to heroin and other opioid drugs."This campus is wide open to the public. People travel through here in high numbers," said Pare.Gov. Deval Patrick's declaration of an opiate emergency in Massachusetts spurred the BUPD to take action.It's the only college campus nationwide to require Narcan in cruisers. The prescription drug is administered by nasal spray, to stop an overdose in its tracks."In Boston, one out of five overdoses occur in public bathrooms. That can happen in universities and often campus police are responding to those calls," said Dr. Alexander Walley, medical director of opioid treatment and prevention programs for Boston and the state."Campus police are trained to be first responders and do CPR, if appropriate. So I think this is an extension of that public safety health mission," said Walley.Boston University police have now all been trained to observe the signs of heroin and other opioid overdoses."That includes lack of breathing, blue skin, and when you see that and a needle sticking out of an arm, you can put two and two together," said Pare."There's no place where it's not happening. So it make sense in a city like Boston to be prepared," said Walley.Under his emergency declaration, Gov. Patrick ordered the Department of Public Health to make Narcan available to all first responders and to drug abusers' families and friends.