NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of New York City police officers will soon be carrying emergency antidotes to help deal with the recent spike in heroin overdoses.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and city Police Commissioner William Bratton announced that the state is providing the New York Police Department with $1.17 million from civil and criminal forfeiture cases to pay for nearly 20,000 kits intended to equip patrol officers, including those assigned to transit and housing bureaus.

Kits contain two syringes and two inhalers of naloxone (nuh-LAHK’-zohn)- also marketed under the brand name Narcan – and instructions. They cost about $60 each with a two-year shelf life.

Officers equipped with the drug as part of pilot program on Staten Island have saved five overdose victims.

The attorney general’s office says the kit was used to save more than 500 lives in New York’s Suffolk County last year.

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203-w-34-(Warren Levinson, AP correspondent, with New York state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman)–The NYPD is the latest police department to equip officers with an antidote for heroin overdoses. AP correspondent Warren Levinson reports. (27 May 2014)

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205-a-11-(New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, at news conference)-“about their addiction”-New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton says the naloxone kits are a good emergency step in the face of heroin addiction. ((naloxone is pronounced nuh-LAHK’-zohn)) (27 May 2014)

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206-a-15-(New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, at news conference)-“of those afflicted”-New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton says the kits will be purchased with funds from civil and criminal forfeitures. (27 May 2014)

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