Press Release from the Towns County Sheriff’s Office:

The Towns County Sheriff’s Office equipped deputies and local police officers with potentially life-saving Naloxone kits, as well as training in the use of Naloxone in stopping a potentially fatal narcotics overdose. .

The Sheriff’s Office applied for and received a grant through the Project DAN (Death Avoided by Naloxone). The project grant is intended to provide the training necessary for law enforcement first responders to be able to administer the overdose kit to narcotic overdose victims. Numerous victims of narcotic overdoses have been saved due to the first responding law enforcement officers being equipped with these kits.

The Sheriff’s Office reached out to the Hiawassee Police Department and was able to provide kits and training for their officers as well. The Hiawassee Police Department provided a classroom at City Hall for all the officers to attend the training.

On Tuesday July 25th and Thursday July 27th Towns County Sheriff’s Captain Jim Couch conducted the necessary training in the use of Naloxone in treating a narcotic overdose. All the officers attending were issued Naloxone kits upon completion of the training.

Sheriff Clinton is pleased that we could offer our deputies and local police officers training and equipment that may save the life of someone’s family member. Being proactive in dealing with substance abuse isn’t only about enforcement; it should also include prevention and treatment. In the event that someone’s loved one is experiencing a life threatening narcotics overdose, the first and most important thing is to do all that we can to save the victim’s life. Sheriff Clinton would like to thank the Hiawassee Police Department for providing the classroom and participating in the training. Our local law enforcement as first responders are now better equipped in saving lives.