There's a new message out, aimed at helping first responders learn how to deal with the rising opioid epidemic.
The public service announcement from the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) comes one day after more than two dozen people had to be treated for possible drug exposure inside an Ohio prison after an inmate showed signs of an overdose.
But, it's not just Ohio. Pennsylvania locked down its entire state prisons citing similar incidents in recent weeks.
Today, the OJP released a video for first responders. who have been forced to deal with a rapid rise in drug overdoses from synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
Fentanyl is often mixed with illegal drugs, and doctors say it only takes minimal contact with it for symptoms to start, because it's more potent than heroin and morphine.
The goal of the training video is for first responders to feel confident in situations they’re faced with, by providing information and busting myths.
The video explains actions first responders should take to protect themselves if they think fentanyl is present, if they are exposed to it and if they show signs of opioid intoxication.
