West Penn Township’s police department will now have Narcan at its disposal.

Township supervisors Monday morning approved the use of Narcan for its police department in vehicles, as well as their headquarters, contingent on approval from the township’s insurance company.

The board’s decision came after it heard from Tammy Sienkiewicz, co-founder of Safer Streets for Tamaqua’s Little Feet, who asked the board to approve the township’s police department to carry Narcan and be able to use it.

“We hope we never have to use it; that’s the reason why we started this organization,” Sienkiewicz said. “I hear so many horror stories; fentanyl is one little piece that can kill a child.”

Sienkiewicz said that Tamaqua Police Department has carried Narcan since Aug. 31, 2019, as the group gave them their first supply.

“All Narcan works on is opioids,” she said. “The only thing Narcan does is it takes the opioids off the brain.”

Sienkiewicz noted that Narcan is a brand of naloxone, and added that its shelf life is two years.

“It’s not a drug,” she said.

“This is the same as a defibrillator; it gets your heart going again,” she said. “It’s not a long-term medication, it’s not a life-sustaining medication.”

Sienkiewicz noted, “You can’t reach sobriety without a heartbeat,” and added that when naloxone is used, “it will not interfere with any medication being taken for any other medical condition.”

She said Safer Streets for Tamaqua’s Little Feet is now a recognized entity to distribute naloxone through the Pennsylvania Overdose Prevention Program.

Sienkiewicz said anyone who needs any may reach out, and added that it’s free of charge.

Board Chairman Tony Prudenti thanked Sienkiewicz for all she’s done for the community.

Safer Streets for Tamaqua’s Little Feet provides boots on the ground support in substance/alcohol use disorder in finding rehab beds for those who reach out, providing personal hygiene bags, education, CRS/Narcan training, creating sober events and outings, providing resources, and walking to remember those lost since 2016.

Tammy and John Sienkiewicz lost their daughter, Alex Sienkiewicz, who died of an overdose of fentanyl in 2016.

The couple created Safer Streets for Tamaqua’s Little Feet on May 25, 2016, to educate school kids, and adults alike, on drug addictions.

For information, visit saferstreetstamaqua@gmail.com, or contact Tammy Sienkiewicz at 570-527-9277, or John Sienkiewicz at 570-527-9278.