CARY, N.C.  -- The Cary Police Department is taking new measures to combat the opioid crisis in their town.

Last year, the town saw a 40 percent increase in fatal overdoses and a 135 percent increase in non-fatal overdoses.

Now, all Cary patrol officers carry Narcan kits, which contain life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from heroin or other opioids.

"We're doing it to save lives, not only the citizens we deal with but possibly our own.  When we respond to a house where possibly an overdose has happened something may get disturbed and some of the powder may go airborne and we may inhale it which can send the officer into an overdose situation," said Cary Police Lt. Bryant Brame. ​

Cary police worked with Wake EMS and the Wake County Sheriff’s Office to help launch the program.

An investment of more than $11,000 went into the program. 

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