Lehigh County District Attorney James Martin announced Dec. 23 that all Lehigh County police departments and various affiliated task force detectives will now be using the opioid antidote Naloxone.

Martins said in his statement participating municipalities include Alburtis, Bethlehem, Catasauqua, Coopersburg, Macungie, Salisbury Township, Coplay, Emmaus, Fountain Hill, Lower Milford Township, Slatington, South Whitehall Township, Upper Macungie Township, Upper Saucon Township and Whitehall Township. Allentown’s officers are still undergoing required training and the city is expected to enter an understanding in the near future.

“The importance of this Naloxone administration program cannot be overstated,” Martin said. “Currently, opiate overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in Lehigh County.

When certain requirements are met, detectives and officers who have been trained will be able to administer Naloxone to individuals experiencing an opioid-related overdose. This program will save lives and combat the destructive affects that overdoses have on families and our communities.”

Between 2009 and 2013, nearly 3,000 heroin-related overdose deaths were identified by coroners in Pennsylvani4 40 of which were in Lehigh County, according to Martin. Lehigh County Coroner Scott M. Grim said that so far in 2015, Lehigh County investigated 103 drug deaths, of which 35 were heroin or synthetic drug related.