Imagine for a moment that you are a police officer answering the call for a drug bust. After arriving at the scene and taking care of the culprits, you pass out, waking up sometime later in the back of an ambulance. Believe it or not, this instant is one of the thousands of cases where law enforcement and rescue officials have been victimized by powerful painkillers. During drug busts or relatively common calls, personnel are suffering from overdoses after accidentally consuming fentanyl, a deadly opioid responsible for hundreds of deaths across the United States. Nowadays, this is a grim reality of our defense forces. So how do they deal with the problem and how can it be prevented down the line? Let’s take a closer look at the situation and find out more.
An Unfortunate Aspect of Crime Fighting
Much like superheroes on comic book pages, our real-life heroes have to face some deadly enemies which (ironically) come from needles and bottles. Since 2016, the potent opioid called fentanyl has been singularly responsible for killing 75% of 153 overdose victims in the Beaver County area of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. Among those victims included police officers and other members of rescue teams. Just ask Sergeant Giovanni Trello.
After receiving a call about two victims suffering from seizures in a parking lot, Trello and other officers arrived at the scene and attended to the people, who were alert by the time law enforcement arrived. In their car, police found drug paraphernalia including needles and empty stamp bags contained in an open Ziploc. Reaching into the car, Trello squeezed the Ziploc, and drug residue flew into his eyes and mouth. Due to the hot weather, the car’s air conditioning blasted the drug across the police officer, whose damp skin also caught the residue.
Exercising Caution with Drug Busts
Continuous cries for help and exposure to harmful substances has forced first responders to change how they complete their work. Initially, Aliquippa Police Chief Don Couch was cautious about handing naloxone to his officers, until the situation with Sgt. Trello. Later, the Chief reconsidered his options and ordered that all city police cars should carry a supply of the life-saving chemical.
Always remember that opioids do not have control over your life. You do. Are you suffering from a substance use disorder or a severe form of addiction? Do you have a friend or family member suffering from one or more of these debilitating illnesses? If you do, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our counselors and healthcare experts are ready to walk you through every step of the detox and withdrawal process and rehabilitation and guide you towards living a happier, healthier, and freer lifestyle. While the road to recovery might not be an easy road to travel, we promise to help you every step of the way. Take the first step to stay fit, healthy, and safe.
The time for you to take back control of your life is now. If you are interested in one of our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how to overcome your drug abuse or addiction troubles today.
