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Ky. EMS Narcan use up 143 percent

Officials said from December 2015 to December 2016, Narcan administration skyrocketed from 908 to 2,206 doses

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Metro EMS recently released startling overdose numbers — stating the agency’s use of Narcan by EMTs is up 143 percent compared to this time last year

WHAS11.com reported that from December 2015 to December 2016, Narcan administration skyrocketed from 908 to 2,206.

“We’ve also seen over this year an increase in overdoses overall by about 47 percent,” Mitchell Burmeister, Metro EMS spokesman, said.

The biggest help, Burmeister said, to combat the increasing numbers is addiction recovery.

“It’s hard to say whether or not you’re going to overdose,” he said. “You really don’t know when you’re taking that drug if that could be the last time you’re taking it and if you get saved and don’t get into any sort of recovery program or get any help, it’s just a cycle.”