A new grant for the life-saving drug naloxone is a saving grace for overdose survivors and first responders. 

The Cambria County Drug & Alcohol Program received a grant through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for 480 doses of Narcan nasal spray.

Typically, doses of Narcan range from $30-$100 each, which can place a big financial burden on ambulance companies and fire departments, who have to pay for the opioid-reversal drug out-of-pocket.

“One-hundred overdoses is $5,000 a year. That’s expensive,” said West End Ambulance Manager Ira Hart. “Our equipment is expensive. We could take that money that we would be spending on Narcan to use on other equipment to help us keep going on our day-to-day operations,” Hart said.

The grant will help both large companies like West End and small ones like Forest Hills. Portage Area Ambulance will save about $600 a month. The Johnstown Fire Department now has four times the amount of Narcan available.

“Additional supplies are available, but we need to be accountable. How Narcan is being used, how effective it’s being,” said Frederick Oliveros, the assistant administrator for the Cambria County Drug and Alcohol Program.

One requirement of the grant is that first responders keep track of where and how often they administer Narcan, as well as what kind of drugs are being used.

“Names on stamp bags, pictures on stamp bags. We’ll be providing that to our DA’s office in the event that it can help in their investigations,” Oliveros said.

The two-year grant could be extended if the county can track Narcan use and educate first responders and drug addicts on resources and treatment options, like the Alliance Medical Services’ 24/7 overdose survivor helpline.

“Our EMS were not necessarily aware of this service and now they are,” said Oliveros.

West End plans to join the seven other ambulance companies and fire departments who have picked up doses in order to save money and save lives.

“Narcan through the grant system would be extremely helpful,” Hart said. “With us trying to squeeze every penny out to keep us on the road, that would make a huge, huge impact on us.”