Cops use Narcan to save man from heroin OD twice in three days

Newton police used Narcan to revive a 51-year-old man who was overdosing on heroin twice in three days, according to police reports.

Police first responded to Center Street on Monday and found a man unconscious and in respiratory arrest, according a to news release by police. The man was showing symptoms consistent with a heroin overdoze, and so they administered Narcan and performed rescue breathing until the man regained consciousness, police said. He was then transported to Newton Medical Center.

Then on Wednesday, police responded to Center Street again, and again found a 51-year-old unresponsive in the bedroom, showing signs of an overdose, police said in another news release. Once again, they administered Narcan and performed rescue breathing, then transported the man to Newton Medical Center after he regained consciousness.

The New Jersey Herald reports police confirmed the two incidents involved the same man.

Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Spokesman Al Della Fave told New Jersey 101.5 earlier this week that drug overdose death may have finally leveled off in his county because after an OD victim is brought to a hospital “we have counselors that immediately speak to the sprayed person and try to get them to go into rehab. We know that ‘spray and release’ is not going to work."

He added since the “Narcan 2” program — in which counselors are sent to ERs — was introduced last year, 10 OD victims have been brought to local hospitals for treatment  after getting Narcan. All 10 have started detox programs, he said.

“We’re hoping this Narcan 2 program is expanded statewide,” he said.

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