Caroline Tucker

WASHINGTON – (WMAL) – Loudoun County is wrestling with a heroin epidemic.

However,  a trial program aimed at saving lives is now expanding there.

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office says it will outfit all patrol deputies with the drug Naloxone, also known as Narcan.

It’s meant to reverse the effects of an opioid or heroin overdose.

“The Sheriff’s Office and Loudoun County Fire and Rescue each have had saves of heroin overdoses that would have been fatal,” said Lt. Colonel Robert Buckman.

The sheriff’s office started using the treatment during a pilot program in December.

All deputies will be trained on how to use it and it will allow them to treat people before an ambulance arrives.

In 2015, there were 35 heroin overdoses in the county.

Already this year, there have been 14 overdoses.

Lt. Col. Buckman hopes that the treatment helps save lives.

Copyright 2016 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved.

(Photo: CNN)