Saint-Mary Corwin donates opiate antidote to Pueblo County Sheriff’s office

The Saint Mary-Corwin Medical Center is partnering with another local law enforcement agency to prevent overdose deaths in Pueblo County.

The center will be donating 136 doses of the anti-overdose drug Naloxone to Pueblo County Sheriff’s deputies Wednesday. Deputies will also begin carrying the nasal-spray version of the drug, which is commonly referred to as Narcan.

The Pueblo Police Department has been carrying the drug since June 2016, and will also be receiving an additional donation of 50 doses.

The drug reverses some of the effects of opioid overdose, which include severe respiratory depression.

“The opioid crisis is a national problem and this partnership allows us to come together as a local community to provide greater coverage across Pueblo County to address a significant health issue, giving these struggling individuals another chance at life,” said Brian Moore, the president and chief executive officer of St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center.