The Conyers Police Department is the latest of agencies to receive a donation of opioid overdose emergency treatment injectors.  

Kaléo, a privately-held pharmaceutical company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, has a donation program that will allow qualifying local law enforcement agencies to receive EVZIO naloxone auto-injectors without charge as part of the Kaléo Cares program.  

“Patrol officers are typically the first responder to arrive at an overdose emergency call and with the increase of such deaths occurring nationwide; equipping our officers with this device could potentially save lives,” said Chief of Police Gene Wilson in a press release.

EVZIO auto-injectors are a handheld, single-use device for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid, medications that relieve pain, overdose.  EVZIO should be administered as quickly as possible when an opioid overdose, such as Vicodin or OxyContin, is suspected because prolonged respiratory depression may result in damage to the central nervous system or death.  

“It is also important to inform our citizens, especially teens, of the amnesty law that was passed here in Georgia just last year,” said Wilson. 

In 2014, Georgia became the 15th state to enact a 911 Medical Amnesty law granting limited legal immunity to the 911 caller and the patient experiencing the drug or alcohol overdose.  

This bill passed in the wake of many examples of overdose deaths where those with them did not call 911 to seek medical assistance for fear of prosecution for the possession and use of illegal drugs or underage alcohol consumption.