Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers in Southeast Missouri are joining a growing number of law enforcement agencies now carrying an antidote for opioid overdoses in their cars.
Patrol officials received boxes of the nasal spray Narcan on Thursday from representatives of the Saint Francis Foundation, Black River Healthcare Foundation and Black River Medical Center.
The foundations' donation resulted from a December conversation Dr. Chris Pinderski, medical director emergency services at Black River Medical Center, had with troop commander, Capt. Jeff Vitale.
"I was asking him about the drugs they're seeing out on the roads and ... the potential officers have of possible exposure," said Pinderski, who indicated they discussed Narcan at that time.
Pinderski said he learned the patrol did not carry Narcan in its vehicles unlike the Poplar Bluff Police Department and Butler County Sheriff's Department, which have carried the drug in their vehicles for nearly a year.
"I thought it would be great to try to get something in their vehicles," Pinderski said. "I was able fortunately to connect with Saint Francis Foundation.
"They volunteered to donate (the drug) to the highway patrol."
Pinderski believes officers having access to Narcan is important for two reasons.
"No. 1, it adds another level of safety to the people of Southeast Missouri" in the 13 counties the patrol covers, Pinderski said.
Potentially, he said, a trooper could be the first one on the scene of an opioid overdose, and Narcan is "life-saving medication" that can be administered to a patient.
The other consideration, Pinderski said, is the traffic on the highways in the area.
"They have the potential of being exposed accidentally on traffic stops," Pinderski said. "Through the course of their work, there is a potential it could be used on them if they have an accidental exposure."
Carrying the drug, he said, is for "their safety as well."
Pinderski said the Narcan will be there in case it's needed, but he hopes the troopers never need to use it.
"It's like a fire extinguisher, you never want to use it, but it's there," he said.
The Saint Francis Foundation, according to its vice president, Jimmy Wilferth, is about helping keep "our community healthy."
The highway patrol, he said, also works to "keep our community safe and healthy.
"What hit me most, if one of them goes down, if one of them is exposed, they can't do their job."
In order to make sure the troopers can continue do their jobs, Wilferth said, the foundation raised funds to "help our law enforcement, help our patients, help our community to stay safe and healthy."
Wilferth described it as a "no brainer. This is what we work to do with our time and efforts. It's an honor to be a part of it."
As he drove from Cape Girardeau, Mo., Thursday, Wilferth said, he was thankful for the troopers working in Southeast Missouri "that they are taking care of us."
A lot of times, Wilferth said, people look at law enforcement through negative eyes.
"I look at them through positive eyes, and I want to do everything I can to keep them equipped, to keep them healthy and keep them safe, so they can keep us safe," Wilferth said.
Matt Bedell said the Black River Healthcare Foundation works a lot with the John 3:16 program, a faith-based recovery program.
"I know two men that have overdosed and died in this community that were friends of mine," Bedell said. "It's a real epidemic, and it's a real threat."
Bedell described it as being very rewarding to know the Narcan is going into every patrol car and "is going to make a difference."
On behalf of the highway patrol, Master Sgt. Randy Dye said, it was great to know that people like Pinderski, the St. Francis Foundation and Black River Foundation "care about what we do out there (and) are looking out for not only the public's safety, but our safety."
As troopers, "we do have a dangerous job," Dye said. "The chances of being exposed" to opioids, especially Fentanyl, are increasing.
"It gives us peace of mind to be able to do our jobs out there ... (knowing the Narcan) could potentially be a life saver not only to us, but the public," Dye said. "We very much appreciate it."
Dye said he has personally seen a couple of overdoses in the last year or two.
"I got some opioids the other day," said Trooper Chance Berry. "Opioids are everywhere.
"At least every week there is an opioid stop somewhere in Troop E, if not every day," Berry said.
Pinderski told the troopers he expects there is going to be an increase in the illicit opioids in the short term as health care providers decrease the availability of prescription opioids.
As result, he said, officers will have a greater chance of exposure as they have "no idea" what they will find on a traffic stop.
"I worry about my guys searching a car," Dye said. "I've told them to be careful."
Even a heroin arrest, Berry said, could be dangerous if contact is made with Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid used to treat pain, but also used illicitly as a cutting agent for heroin.
Dye agreed.
Not only contact, but "just to breathe" could risk exposure, Dye added.