Police Save Heroin Overdose Victim's Life With Narcan

NATICK, MA -- A Natick man’s life was saved on Friday when Natick police were able to administer Narcan to a person suffering a heroin overdose, reported Chief James G. Hicks.

The drug is an opioid antagonist that quickly reverses the effects of a potentially fatal overdose by displacing the drug from the receptors in the brain, said the announcement. It has minimal side effects, is not dangerous if administered to a person who is not overdosing, and it has no potential for abuse.

On Friday, Jan., 2, Natick police responded to a residence, where they found a 22-year-old male unconscious. Police administered Nasal Narcan immediately, determining that he had overdosed on heroin.

The man regained consciousness and was evaluated by the Natick Fire Department before being transported to the hospital.

All Natick police were trained and began carrying Nasal Naloxone in their cruisers in August 2015. This is the department’s first Narcan save.

“Given the current epidemic this nation is facing, it is imperative that as first responders, we are equipped with this life saving drug,” Chief Hicks said in a statement. “By administering Narcan, this resident is alive today.”