YARMOUTH – After seeing a dramatic surge in Heroin overdoses this past month, the stress of responding to the overdoses is taking its toll on Yarmouth police officers.
Yarmouth Deputy Police Chief Steven Xiarhos said officers are administering Narcan, a drug to reverse the effects of opiate overdoses, and seeing seeing so many incidents is causing problems for officers.
“Emotionally it takes a toll. It’s the same officers doing all these things and we have to make sure they are emotionally taken care of, not only phyically but psychologically,” said Xiarhos. “It can be wearing, and we are aware of that and we do everything we can to make sure they are balanced.”
According to Xiarhos, the situations can be dangerous.
“We’ve had officers threatened while they are trying to administer CPR or give Narcan,” said Xiarhos. “It’s very dangerous and it’s very stressful, and that’s what we are most concerned about.”
Xiarhos said they have seen a dramatic increase in overdoses compared to this time last year and are hoping that distributing Narcan will prevent those overdoses from becoming fatal.
The deputy chief is asking those who are addicts, or those who have family and friends who are addicts, to contact helplines and hotlines for assistance.
