As the City of Albuquerque faces an increase in fentanyl overdoses, Albuquerque Fire Rescue (AFR) has established a program to help families of people struggling with opioid addiction.

The program, called Narcan Leave Behind, authorizes AFR to leave two doses of Narcan with the person's family after AFR revives someone from an overdose, according to KRQE. 

AFR reported a 42% increase in doses given of Narcan, an overdose-reversal medication, in the last three years, according to KRQE. Doses administered jumped from 639 in 2019 to 916 in 2021, the news station said.

"This touches all quadrants of our city ... this is not just localized in one area of the town," Emily Jaramillo, AFR Deputy Chief, said to KRQE. "I would say post-pandemic is where we've seen a lot of the shift to more fentanyl in our community, so we have seen an increase in overdoses and administration of Narcan."

More children also needed to be treated with Narcan last year, with 18 patients receiving the medication – double the number from the previous year, KRQE said.

AFR has a limited supply of Narcan, but adults can pick up the medication through Bernalillo County's Narcan program, according to KRQE.