As opioid drug overdose cases rise dramatically in Warren County, so does the need for immediate, life-saving treatment. Warrenton police officers will now carry a rescue drug that reverses the effect of overdose from heroin or other opioid drugs.Naloxone hydrochloride, also distributed under the brand name Narcan, can be administered as a nasal spray, which Warrenton officers will begin carrying on every patrol shift. City officials hope doing so will reduce the number of fatal overdoses, especially if police arrive on scene before emergency medical services.“We are trained and ready to go,” said Chief Greg Houdyshell. “We’ll have it out on the road to hopefully save some lives.”Warren County EMS technicians already carry naloxone. The number of times they’ve had to use the drug has increased dramatically since 2010, according to information from Warren County Ambulance District. Between 2010 and 2015, use increased from 35 in a year to 64 in a year.Then that use rate more than doubled in 2016, with 148 people being administered naloxone. The drug has been used 24 times in January and February this year, compared to 17 by the same time last year, indicating overdose cases will continue to be prevalent.Warrenton Police Department isn’t alone in choosing to add naloxone to its tool kit. First responder agencies throughout Warren County are preparing to carry the drug following a grant from the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, which also offers training in its use.Warrenton Fire Protection District personnel began carrying naloxone in mid-January, Chief Mike Owenby said, while Wright City Fire Chief Ron MacKnight said his department is almost ready to take the same step.“We’ve been through training and are working on protocols, making sure they align with SSM medical oversight. We’re looking to put this program in place within the next quarter,” MacKnight said. “We know opioid overdose is a huge problem, and we’re ready to serve our community however we need to.”The heads of Marthasville Volunteer Fire Department, Wright City Police Department and Warren County Sheriff’s Department all said they don’t carry naloxone yet, but are preparing to put their staff through training for its use.At the Warrenton Police Department, the drug will be tightly controlled. A policy approved by the Warrenton Board of Aldermen March 7 includes requirements that officers check naloxone kits out from the police station at the beginning of their shifts, document any kits used, and return unused kits at the end of their shift. The kits need to be kept secure to prevent theft or abuse.How it worksOpioids attach to parts of the nervous system called receptors, which are used to receive chemical signals from the brain. Activating those receptors is what causes the painkilling and addicting effects of opioid drugs. In high enough doses, the drugs can also dangerously slow or stop a person’s breathing.Naloxone functions by removing opioids from nervous system receptors and attaching in their place, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. That prevents opioids from affecting the nervous system and generally reverses overdose symptoms within minutes.The drug has little effect on those who do not have opioids in their body, meaning it is safe to administer even to those who are not suffering an overdose. However, people who have a physical dependence on opioids could suffer potentially significant withdrawal symptoms after receiving naloxone, according to the National Library of Medicine.NARCAN NASAL SPRAY