Metro

NYPD officers to carry heroin overdose antidotes

Thousands of New York City police officers should soon be carrying emergency antidotes to help deal with the recent spike in heroin overdoses.

The New York state Attorney General’s Office is providing the New York Police Department with $1.17 million from civil and criminal forfeiture cases to pay for 19,500 kits intended to equip patrol officers, including those assigned to transit and housing bureaus.

Kits contain two syringes and two inhalers of naloxone — also marketed under the brand name Narcan — and instructions. They cost about $60 each with a two-year shelf life.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says that in less than two months since establishing the reimbursement program, more than 150 law enforcement agencies are getting naloxone kits.

He says in Suffolk County, it was used last year to save 563 lives.