The Sanford Police Department are calling on the public to carry Narcan — an opioid overdose reversal drug — and take safety precautions after responding to three overdoses within 24 hours.
[RELATED: Sanford Suspends Syringe Exchange Program, Cleans Homeless Encampment…]
Sanford Police said Thursday that they responded to three overdoses in a 24-hour period between Monday, March 11, and Tuesday, March 12.
Police said there have also been five non-fatal overdoses in Sanford within the past 30 days.
“We urge people to take safety precautions if and when they are using substances,” Sanford Police said in a Thursday announcement. “Please carry Narcan, do not use alone, and make sure that others are aware of the potential risk in our community.”
Narcan, or naloxone, is a medicine that rapidly reverses opioid overdoses and helps restore normal breathing to a person whose breathing has slowed or stopped because of an overdose.
Sanford Police urged members of the public who need support to contact Lacey Bailey, the city’s liaison with Overdose Prevention Through Intensive Outreach Naloxone and Safety (OPTIONS), a “harm reduction” initiative partnered with state agencies that distributes Narcan in all 16 Maine counties.
Police said Bailey can be contacted at [email protected].
“The Sanford Police Department would like to thank Lacey and the Maine OPTIONS Program for their continued support of our community,” they wrote.
Since September 2019, Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) has distributed over 132,000 doses of naloxone through various public health and harm reduction organizations.
Mills’ supplemental budget proposal includes $1.25 million to expand further distribution of Naloxone across Maine.
In July 2023, the City of Sanford suspended its syringe exchange program, a Maine CDC program by which nonprofits distribute sterile hypodermic needles in exchange for dirty ones, which operated near a homeless encampment which local business owners said was making them feel unsafe and causing their businesses to suffer.
[RELATED: Sanford Man Stabbed Multiple Times After Having His Bike Stolen Near City’s Homeless Hot Spot…]
According to the state’s most recent Syringe Service Programs annual report, a total of 169,350 syringes were distributed and collected in Sanford in 2022.
Hope the supt. of schoo;d a;; ovr the State of Maine especilay Portland and Lewston are keeping a sharp eye out for illinesses like chenken pox , TB and Piolo which illegals have NOT been screened for. We see in to news these deses are on the rise in other illegal migrant states.
I’ve always had a high regard for human life, unfortunately, before I will “save” anyone I will need to see their voting record. Sad times in America.