PORTLAND (WGME) -- New data shows an overdose is happening almost every 30 hours in Portland.
Overdoses are an ongoing problem in the city, and a call the police department gets far too often.
In fact, there have been 175 of them reported in the past eight months.
“It’s a matter of life and death,” Portland Police Department Spokesperson David Singer said.
Portland police officers are on the front lines of the city’s drug epidemic.
According to a report just released by the department, between January 1 and August 30, 175 people overdosed and 14 of them died.
That’s about one overdose every 30 hours.
Police saved a quarter of them using Narcan, an emergency nasal spray.
“This illustrates at least now why it’s important to have Narcan with our first responders,” Singer said. “If they weren’t there it probably would end differently,”
Health experts like Bridget Rauscher say at this rate, the city might reach a record high in the number of overdoses by the end of the year, with the pandemic making it worse.
“You know financial strains, housing strains, just the unknown has certainly impacted use specifically and in potentially overdoses,” Rauscher said.
She says it takes a community to save lives.
If you see someone overdosing, call 911.
“Be aware, be a good neighbor, be a good bystander and care for the people in your community,” Rauscher said.
To schedule a training or find access to free Narcan, call the city’s public health division or visit your local pharmacy.