Reducing Fatal Overdoses in Growing Epidemic

In a community just north of Detroit, drug overdoses are killing people daily. The United States is in crisis amid a growing opioid epidemic with no end in sight. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that overdoses killed more than 110,000 people in 2022 alone.

In Michigan, opioid overdose deaths have soared within the last two decades, with 3,096 overdose deaths in 2021, according to the state's government website. Macomb is one of the largest counties in the state, meaning many overdose deaths occur here while first responders with the Macomb County Sheriff's Office work continuously to battle this epidemic.

In the most recent health assessment performed in Macomb County, drug-related deaths increased by 27.8%, while deaths involving fentanyl increased by 204% compared to the previous year.

Dispatchers, police officers, sheriff's deputies, and first responders deal with this ongoing opioid crisis daily by answering 911 calls relating to overdoses, administering naloxone (NARCAN), transporting individuals who have overdosed to medical facilities, and arresting individuals caught buying or selling drugs.

One of the biggest ways dispatchers with the Macomb County Sheriff's Communication Center keep officers and the community safer in opioid-related calls for service is through their dispatch software, Tyler Technologies’ Enterprise CAD system.

According to Angela Elsey, communication administrator with the county, individuals often call 911 and report that someone is not breathing. As soon as dispatchers have the address, they can view the prior history of all incidences at that address within their CAD solution. This information helps dispatchers and first responders know if drug activity has been known to occur at the location.

"It's common for callers not to say that someone is using drugs," Elsey said. "They don't want to get in trouble. But we need to know if drugs are involved. First responders need to know if drugs are involved. That helps us to send the best response, which can ultimately help save a life."

In addition, dispatchers can create alerts on known locations and persons, which help advise responders. These are especially useful in situations where individuals have assaulted responders.

Using mobile technology within Enterprise CAD, a dispatcher assigned to a call for service can see the real-time location of all units in the field. To do this, dispatchers use their CAD system's automatic vehicle location (AVL) functionality. This helps them see where first responders are located and who is equipped with NARCAN to be able to administer it to the unresponsive subject.

Using this technology, dispatchers can cut down on time spent organizing the rescue and focus on getting officers to the scene as quickly and efficiently as possible. In an event like an overdose, every minute counts toward saving a life.

When first responders arrive on the scene where an individual isn't breathing, they begin CPR and administer NARCAN when necessary. NARCAN is used to reverse opioid overdose, specifically the respiratory depression in overdose victims. All first responders in Macomb County carry NARCAN to administer to individuals experiencing an overdose caused by opioids.

When making critical decisions quickly, dispatchers and first responders rely on information in their Enterprise CAD system to make the best choices in overdose or suspect overdose situations.

Not only does the fast communication through pending calls make a difference when responding to a drug overdose, but the mapping feature helps dispatchers and first responders ensure they are using the fastest route to the geo-verified address.

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