ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority staff will be trained to use Narcan and the medication will also soon be available at the transit's four terminals and headquarters.
PSTA will be the first transit agency in the state to provide the training to employees, according to a news release. The training and Narcan emergency kits will be free.
The training will also be incorporated into the 10-week bus operator orientation with the goal of having all drivers equipped with the ability to administer Narcan in an emergency.
"Our ultimate goal is to save lives," the release said. "PSTA can make a real difference by helping to prevent overdose deaths in our community. Whether it's a son, daughter, parent, or friend, we want to ensure our team is ready to act when someone's life is at risk."
The life-saving opioid reversal medication will be available at the terminals starting Aug. 31, which is International Overdose Awareness Day, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The transit company pointed to the high number of fentanyl-related deaths in the state. Florida's opioid overdose rate has tripled since the turn of the century and "there has been a substantial increase in deaths associated with fentanyl and heroin-related drug use," according to the Florida Department of Health.
Just over the weekend, Citrus County deputies announced they seized about $735,000 worth of fentanyl, calling it the "largest fentanyl seizure" in history for the county. The drug was in multiple forms including counterfeit pills, which are made to look like legitimate prescription pills but often contain deadly doses of fentanyl or other drugs.
The DEA recently released a public safety alert warning people that six out of 10 fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, you can find resources here.