Cambridge Police Deploys Narcan and New Narcotics Analyzer

The Cambridge Police Department today announced that it has deployed naloxone and a new drug detection instrument to its officers. Both tools, which will give officers the ability to address the opioid epidemic and more effectively identify narcotics, were introduced to officers during the Department’s annual in-service training session that concluded last week.

The naxolone, which is known under the brand name “Narcan,” would be used to supplement Cambridge Fire and Pro EMS response. A single dose of naloxone could save the life of someone suffering an overdose of opioids, a class of narcotic drugs that encompasses prescription painkillers such as hydrocodone and oxycodone and street drugs including heroin and fentanyl. When administered during an overdose, naloxone works by blocking opioid receptor sites in the body, reversing the effects of an overdose.

Since its deployment, multiple lives have already been saved by Cambridge Police officers. The first instance occurred on February 24, in which an officer successfully administered Narcan in a business restroom. The second instance took place a day later in a garage bathroom. More recently, officers successfully administered Narcan at the Harvard Square T-Station on April 4 and in a business restroom on April 9.  

The drug detection instrument – the Thermo Scientific TruNarc Analyzer from Thermo Fisher Scientific -- was purchased through a Department of Justice grant. The TruNarc Analyzer is a handheld instrument designed for on-demand, presumptive identification of drugs, cutting agents and precursors.  It was developed and made available to law enforcement agencies in 2012 and tests and provides real-time results for more than 350 substances in a single scan. Having the ability to generate rapid results provides valuable information for officers to continue their investigation, verify undercover buys, and – if appropriate -- proceed with arrest and prosecution. Fast results also ensure that users can quickly receive the treatment they need, whether acute medical care in the case of an overdose or ongoing rehabilitation.

“The introduction of Narcan and the TruNarc Analyzer gives our officers valuable tools to help combat the opioid epidemic, obtain real-time results, steer users into treatment, and increase officer safety by minimizing their exposure to harmful drugs,” said Deputy Superintendent Steven DeMarco of the Cambridge Police Department.    

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