Matthew Martinez, certified instructor with the State of New Mexico and Law Enforcement Training International met with the Los Alamos Public Safety Association (LAPSA) to discuss regional trends in opioid overdoses and instruct the group in the use of Narcan® to treat an opioid overdose.  Opioids, both prescription and illicit, are the primary driver of drug overdose deaths.  Opioid overdoses have quadrupled since 1999 and overdose death rates in New Mexico have exceeded national rates for more than 30 years. Martinez shared information about the signs and symptoms of an overdose and noted that a relative, friend, or community member is often the first to discover a person who has overdosed. Narcan, also known as naloxone, was developed for use by laypersons and can be administered intranasally to stop or temporarily reverse the effects on an overdose.  Martinez emphasized that the bystander should first check the scene and ensure their own safety then call for emergency medical services before administering Narcan.  Narcan is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat opioid overdose and has been used by EMS personnel for more than 40 years.  Laypersons who administer Narcan in response to a suspected overdose are protected from civil and criminal liability by New Mexico law.  For more information on this potentially life-saving intervention or to schedule a training, Martinez can be contacted at 505-795-9588 or through Law Enforcement Training International at 505-884-1557.