Law enforcement agencies in Boulder County always keep naloxone, commonly referred to by brand-name Narcan, on hand to reduce fatal opioid overdoses in the community.

However, the source of their supply, Colorado’s Opioid Antagonist Bulk Purchase Fund, also known as the Naloxone Bulk Purchase Fund, now lacks a recurring source of money.

Nick Goldberger, commander of the Boulder County Drug Task Force, said the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office receives their naloxone supply from the bulk purchase fund free of charge.

“If we get anything, we get it from them and they supply it, at least when there is money still there,” said Goldberger.

The bulk purchase fund was created in 2019 to provide free naloxone to first responders and other eligible organizations. However, one of the fund’s major money sources, the American Rescue Plan, is set to expire next year.

According to Vanessa Bernal, a spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Public Health, that fund has $8.6 million left. Although Goldberger acknowledged that the bulk purchase fund is beginning to dwindle, he remains optimistic.

“Since we are first responders, we have been able to get our order in,” said Goldberger. “Me being an optimist and also seeing how the system is working, hopefully there will be a different type of funding source within the next one or two years.”

Goldberger also said the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office’s current naloxone supply will last for two years.

“That gives us a little bit of breathing room to see what’s out there,” said Goldberger. “Right now, I can’t say that the sheriff’s office is formulating a plan for next year, because the Naloxone that we have is going to go further than that … since we don’t have daily rescues or attempted rescues, it will last for a while.”

Although Naloxone provides a chance at saving a life, Goldberger said it’s not a guarantee.

“I do not want people to believe that just because you have an opioid antagonist with you, that it’s a guarantee to save a life,” said Goldberger. “There’s too many factors — the drug use, the amount, the tolerance of the individual, right? It’s just giving you a better chance of hopefully saving a life, but it’s not a guarantee.”

Longmont Police Chief Jeff Satur said naloxone is a necessary tool and life-saving measure.

“When we first started deploying (naloxone), we have the people that are using drugs, but occasionally kids make it into grandma or grandpa’s pain medication or opiates, and this could save that kid’s life,” said Satur. “I hate to keep calling this a tool, it’s a life-saving measure that everybody should have, because it’s simpler than doing CPR.”

If the bulk fund were to cease to exist, Satur said it would be devastating.

“I think that would be tragic to our community,” said Satur. “It’s a tool that helps us save lives and it helps that person have a second chance at maybe seeking treatment.”

According to Satur, Longmont Public Safety had 20 naloxone saves in 2023 and 10 saves in 2024. Satur clarified that a save is a resuscitation from an opioid overdose.

“What I like to remind people is that it’s somebody’s kid, somebody’s brother, somebody’s sister, maybe somebody’s parent,” said Satur. “So anytime we can save someone, that’s a win … it gives that person another opportunity in life.”

Satur also said that in 2021, officers had a busy year administering naloxone, with 34 saves, and that a lot of people they administer Narcan to are repeat offenders.

“I wish they could all get into treatment and kick this habit … they have to hit rock bottom, and I would think that the potential of dying would be one of those wake-up calls,” said Satur. “But also, I’ve been doing this a long time and it’s not always a wake-up call. We have some people that we’ve used Narcan on several times, and they’re humans, they’re people and they deserve that chance. We have got to be compassionate and we have to care for people.”

Satur ended with a call to action.

“I would encourage legislators in our state to continue to do their best to fund the Naloxone fund,” “It saves peoples’ lives on a daily basis.”