TRENTON — Emergency medical technicians will be able to administer life-saving medication that can reverse the effects of a heroin overdose, which has become a growing problem in New Jersey, the Christie administration announced today.

Any of the 28,000 certified EMTs in the state who want to be able to use the drug, Narcan, must complete a training course first, under the terms of a waiver Health Commissioner Mary O'Dowd signed on Thursday.



The waiver was necessary because while use of the drug is not covered by state EMT rules, the Christie administration wanted to act quickly in the face of what has been described as an epidemic of heroin-related deaths.

"Allowing first responders to administer Narcan will save lives," Gov. Chris Christie said in a statement. "We want to encourage people to seek medical assistance when a drug overdose occurs."

Drug-related deaths rose from 1,026 in 2011 to 1,294 deaths in 2012, according, to the state medical examiner.

The Attorney General's Office and the Department of Health and Human Services are working with the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office to provide the antidote, Narcan.

"Every minute counts in an emergency overdose situation so having first responders carry and administer this medication may mean the difference between life and death," O’Dowd said.

There were a record-breaking 112 drug overdose deaths in Ocean County last year, and most of them were linked to heroin or opioids, compared to 53 overdose deaths in the county in 2012, according to county law enforcement officials.

Last year, Christie signed into law the Overdose Prevention Act, which protects health care professionals, pharmacists and others who administer the drug from civil, criminal and professional liability.

Roseanne Scotti, state director for the Drug Policy Alliance said the waiver was necessary because the Overdose Prevention Act did not specify whether EMTs were part of the group that was protected from liability.

The waiver is "fantastic news," that "gives the green light to EMTs across the state and will save lives," Scotti said.

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