Fountain police officers begin training with and using Narcan

It’s a growing epidemic: heroin use in Southern Colorado.

In 2015, Colorado Springs police responded to 109 overdose calls, prompting the department to arm officers with Narcan.

Now, another city is deploying the heroin overdose antidote.

The Fountain Police Department says it wants to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to the drug.

“It’s not a drug that is picky. A lot of people who start on prescription meds, and once the price becomes too high, they move to heroin,” said Corporal Sheyna Marshall with Fountain Police Department.

“(We receive) several calls per week are related to narcotics overdoses,” said Lt. Tommy Coates added.

They’re working to combat that by arming their officers with Narcan, which immediately reverses the effects of a heroin overdose.

“Half of our dept has been trained and the other half will go through training within a short time period and when it’s complete we’ll be fully outfitted,” Lt. Coates said.

In the coming weeks, 50 Fountain officers will be equipped with the nasal spray.