Recent OD Patient Saved, the 15th Narcan Assisted Save by Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Since April 2019
Press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office:
On 05-01-2023 at approximately 12:15 A.M., a Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputy overheard a radio broadcast for a medical aid for a possible overdose in the 300 block of East Perkins Street in the City of Ukiah (California).[Stock photo of Narcan Kit]
Upon arriving the Deputy noticed a bystander performing CPR on an adult male who was lying on the ground near a business. The Deputy noticed the adult male’s face was bluish in color and that he exhibited shallow breathing. The Deputy administered a 4MG dosage of Narcan to the adult male suspecting the adult male was suffering from a potential lethal overdose.
Approximately 45 seconds later the adult male showed a physical improvement but still displayed an altered level of consciousness. Shortly thereafter, personnel from the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority arrived and began providing additional medical treatment. The adult male was subsequently transported to the Adventist Health Ukiah Valley hospital for further medical treatment.
During scene interview(s), the Deputy learned the adult male smoked a personal amount of heroin just prior to experiencing the medical emergency.
In April 2019 the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) began to issue NARCAN® (Naloxone HCI) nasal spray dosage units to its employees as part of their assigned personal protective equipment. MCSO’s goal is in protecting the public and officers from opioid overdoses. Access to naloxone is now considered vital in the U.S. The Center for Disease Control. At that time, the California Opioid Overdose Surveillance Dashboard reported Mendocino County ranking, per capita, 3rd in all opioid overdose deaths. (https://discovery.cdph.ca.
gov/CDIC/ODdash/). Refer to dashboard for current updated ranking information. Narcan nasal spray units are widely known to reverse opioid overdose situations in adults and children. Each nasal spray device contains a four milligram dose, according to the manufacturer. Naloxone Hydrochloride, more commonly known by the brand name NARCAN®, blocks the life-threatening effects of opioid overdose (both medications and narcotics) including extreme drowsiness, slowed breathing, or loss of consciousness. The antidote can reverse the effects of an overdose for up to an hour, but anyone who administers the overdose reversal medication in a non-medical setting is advised to seek emergency medical help right away. The spray units can also be used by Public Safety Professionals who are unknowingly or accidentally exposed to potentially fatal amounts of fentanyl from skin absorption or inhalation.
The issuance of the Narcan nasal units, thus far, have been to employees assigned to the Field Services Division and the Mendocino County Jail medical staff. Employees are required to attend user training prior to being issued the medication.
Sheriff Matthew C. Kendall would like to thank Mendocino County Public Health for providing the Narcan nasal units to the Sheriff’s Office free of charge as part of the Free Narcan Grant from the California Department of Public Health.
Since the April 2019 issuance, there have now been (15) fifteen separate situations wherein Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Staff have administered NARCAN and saved the lives of (15) fifteen people in need of the lifesaving antidote medication.
In October 2021 the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office received a grant from the California Naloxone Distribution Project through the Department of Health Care Services to help maintain an inventory of the live saving antidote.
The 192 dosage units have been distributed to the Field Services Division and Corrections Division as previous inventories from Mendocino County Public Health have been exhausted.
Sheriff Matthew C. Kendall would like to thank the California Naloxone Distribution Project through the Department of Health Care Services for awarding the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office with the Naloxone grant to better help protect his employees and the public.
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NARCAN….interrupting Darwin’s work every day
Great observation.
The sad part is that the person who needs the NARCAN will recover and go back to drugs which will lead to more NARCAN being administered by law enforcement. It is a cycle that is almost impossible to break unfortunately.
Actually it is a cycle that could be easily broken. The question is whether or not we repeatedly save someone from the consequences of their own poor choices. I can’t imagine allowing someone to die when something so simple, easy, and relatively inexpensive can save them, but I also think we need to figure out how limit the enabling of junkies.
After a person is revived with Narcan, are they put on probation or some kind of review process?
Good question. I can’t seem to find the answer no matter where I look. Maybe a police officer can shed some light on this.
Put on probation ?
My understanding of the law is that it is not illegal to be addicted. The person in this article is free to keep on chasing the dragon and to continue being assisted . It would be unconstitutional to arrest them or place them in a treatment facility against their will.
Let’s look at the effects of alcohol and determine that those under the influence, but not driving as being behind the wheel while under the influence is a crime in itself, but to those who are drinking in public should be put on probation. We would have no room in prisons or jails.
Isn’t this great advertising for Narcan? Every addict is a big pharma cash cow! Is it the same manufacturer making the Fentan and the Narcan?
The Pelican 1050 case retails for $29 each. No idea how much the Narcan costs. Good business for someone.