According to Sheriff Jeff Shaver, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office has equipped every deputy with a lifesaving opioid antidote.  The Sheriff’s Office initially received 4 Naloxone kits from District Attorney Mike O’Dell in early January. On Tuesday, an additional 30 kits were received from the Alabama Department of Public Health.  The easy-to-use antidote, naloxone, is being issued through a collaborative effort between Sheriffs, District Attorneys, and the Alabama Department of Public Health.  The antidote kits cost about $4,000 each and are being provided by a pharmaceutical company, Kaleo Pharma, to address the opioid epidemic in Alabama. 

These kits are intended to protect first responders who may accidentally come into contact with a dangerous drug substance and could save the life of someone who has overdosed.  The antidote is given as an injection, much like an epi-pen.

“It allows us to have peace of mind in case of accidental exposure to a toxic opioid and be ahead of the curve in regards to this epidemic creeping across our country", said Sheriff Shaver.

Sheriff Shaver stated, “We are grateful to be able to equip all of our deputies with these kits, and we are fortunate to have not seen the results of the national opioid epidemic here yet, like many more urban areas.”