Lexington police are finalizing a policy to allow officers to carry and administer the overdose-reversing drug Narcan.
Police spokeswoman Brenna Angel says officers have already been trained to use Narcan, a name brand of the opioid overdose antidote naloxone.
Angel says the police department has purchased enough doses to equip all officers with the bureaus of patrol and special operations by next week.
The new policy says officers who find a person suffering a drug overdose can administer the drug if fire and medical crews have not yet arrived.
Lexington Fire Battalion Chief Joe Best says Narcan has been administered an average of 149 times each month in the city this year, up from a monthly average of 107 in 2015.