An increasing number of first responders in cities and towns across the state, in the midst of combatting a heroin epidemic, are beginning to use the overdose reversal drug Narcan to great effect. Officials in Wareham are looking into the matter that could potentially be a lifesaver.

Gov. Deval Patrick declared a public health emergency in March in response to a surge of heroin-related deaths in the state and authorized the use of Narcan, an overdose reversal spray, by police and firefighters when they had previously been barred by state regulations.

According to the state Department of Public Health, the number of opioid-related deaths, which include heroin and certain other drugs, in Massachusetts has risen from 363 in 2000 to 642 in 2011, and according to the Boston Globe there have been 185 suspected heroin doses in the state between Nov. 1, 2013 and Feb. 25 of this year, many of those happening in Southeastern Massachusetts.

"We've been using Narcan for 30 years," said Wareham EMS Director David Evans. He said that having police and firefighters trained to use Narcan would be a great help when his thinned out department gets multiple calls at the same time and can't be everywhere at once.

Evans said Narcan does reverse the effects of an overdose, but that it is time limited.

"It comes in spurts, some months we rarely use it, other times we have to use it four or five times a week," he said.

Wareham Fire Chief Robert McDuffy said Narcan has been discussed at recent public safety department meetings and he has been in contact with Evans on the subject. He said he would follow Evan's lead in determining whether it would be the right decision for the fire department.

"We're interested in talking about it and eager to better understand our role," McDuffy said.

Interim Wareham Police Chief Kevin Walsh echoed those sentiments, and said while they don't currently use Narcan it's "on his radar" and that he has been in talks with other police departments about how they handle the costs and training involved with Narcan.

Onset Fire Chief Ray Goodwin said he has been in contact with Dr. Amy Gutman at Tobey Hospital to help guide the department in using Narcan. Like the other department heads, he said Narcan may have very positive effects but there are logistical matters that need addressing before police or firefighters start carrying around Narcan in Wareham.

"It's a service we can provide and we try to do the best we can for the public, try to be as responsive as we can be to people's needs," Goodwin said.