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Gaston County deputies get new tool to stop drug overdoses

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Deputies and emergency crews in Gaston County are getting a new tool to combat the growing epidemic of stopping drug overdoses from turning deadly.

The Gaston County sheriff became an advocate for Narcan after a personal encounter he had at a crime scene last year.

"There was an overdose. He was dying. There wasn't much we could do for him,” said Gaston County Sheriff Alan Cloninger.

Cloninger said paramedics have Narcan, which is a nasal spray that can revive people who have overdosed on opioids.

“He was breathing normal. He was back, so yeah, it will make a difference,” he said.

Paramedics got Narcan because use of drugs like heroine are on the rise nationwide.

"An average of 78 Americans every day dying of a drug overdose,” said Gaston EMS director Mark Lamphiear.

They used the drug 311 times last year. Thirty-four people still died in 2015 from drug overdoses.

Gaston County has the fourth highest rate of drug overdoses in the state.

"When they are lying there dying, if there is something as simple as administering Narcan, you can save their lives, then we should do it," Cloninger said.

He wanted all 500 law enforcement officers in Gaston County to have the drug.

It costs $35 a dose, and Cloninger didn't know how to fund a program, but he knew the CEO of the local hospital, who had a personal experience.

"I lost my sister Beth at 28 years old to a drug overdose,” CaroMont Healthcare CEO Doug Luckett said.

CaroMont Healthcare paid for doses.

Local law enforcement chiefs signed an agreement to accept the doses and have paramedics train their officers how to administer the drug.

Paramedics will provide replacement doses, but only on a temporary basis.

Those police chiefs hope elected officials will see the value in Narcan and pay for replacement doses.

Read more about Narcan here.