Police departments are taking steps to prevent heroin overdoses.
Winnebago County Sheriff Richard Meyers says his officers are going to start carrying Narcan, hoping to stop the effects of heroin before a user dies.
“It’s all about saving lives. We’ve experienced a tremendous amount of heroin overdose deaths in our county over the last few years,” he said.
Deputies from Winnebago County and police departments in South Beloit, Rockton and Cherry Valley are getting trained on how to use Narcan this week. Once training is complete, the officers will carry two syringes of the medicine with them while they patrol.
More than 50 people died from heroin overdoses in Winnebago County last year.