The Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Health, recently conducted an important opioid awareness and Narcan training session. Sheriff Aaron Mitchell announced that the training, held last week, was aimed at equipping local law enforcement and first responders with the knowledge and skills to combat the opioid crisis.

The session, led by Region 7 Overdose Prevention Coordinator Yolanda Duckworth, educated over 80 Sabine Parish Sheriff Deputies, along with officers from the Zwolle Police Department and members of the Sabine Parish District Attorney’s Office.

Duckworth provided valuable information on opioid addiction, highlighting the growing dangers of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, and offered practical training on how to properly administer Narcan (Naloxone) in the event of an overdose. Narcan is a life-saving medication that can reverse the effects of opioid overdoses if administered quickly.

“Opioids, including prescription painkillers like hydrocodone and oxycodone, as well as illicit drugs like heroin and fentanyl, present a serious threat to public safety,” Sheriff Mitchell explained. “This training is an essential step in ensuring our deputies and other law enforcement personnel are prepared to respond effectively in life-threatening situations.”

Sheriff Mitchell expressed his gratitude to Duckworth and the Louisiana Department of Health for bringing this critical training to Sabine Parish, emphasizing the importance of community and law enforcement collaboration in tackling the opioid epidemic.