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Gov. Matt Bevin brings Narcan to restock heroin responders in Northern Kentucky

Posted at 10:54 PM, Aug 23, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-23 23:08:00-04

BURLINGTON, Ky. - Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin brought 700 doses of Narcan to Northern Kentucky first responders Wednesday to replenish their depleted resources and help them fight the heroin epidemic.

First responders appreciated the financial support and said Bevin’s visit shined a spotlight on the heroin epidemic in this part of the state.

“Anything we can get helps," said Capt. Chris Adkins, EMS Coordinator with Dayton Bellevue Fire Department.

Adkins said first responders are struggling to keep up with demand as the number of heroin overdoses rises.

“When we're burning through that kind of money yearly for Narcan, that’s a hit on the budget. That's a hit on all these departments," Adkins said.

“It's destroying our budget … we only have so much money."

But the state lended a hand Wednesday along with the Northern Kentucky Health Department, and Aetna.  

Bevin called it a “human obligation.”

“Do we as a society want to say certain people don't matter? Certain lives don't matter? Nonsense,” said Bevin. “We have an obligation. We have a moral obligation. We frankly have a societal obligation. We have a human obligation to extend every ability we have to save lives."

Adkins welcomed the governor’s attention.

“The more people that know about and the more people that are working to try alleviate the problem and treat the problem, that's a good thing," he said.

SEE WCPO's complete coverage: Heroin in the Tri-State