Anonymous
Source: Santa Barbara Police Department
On August 25, 2020 at approximately 1 P.M., the Santa Barbara Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting an unconscious, non-breathing male inside Alameda Park.
Officers arrived, assessed the male and conducted a cursory interview of bystanders. Officers determined the male was suffering from a possible acute overdose of drugs. Officers quickly administered NARCAN and started rescue breaths.
Santa Barbara Fire arrived and took over life saving techniques. Within a minute the male was fully revived, conscious and breathing on his own.
On scene medical experts determined that the NARCAN dose reversed the harmful effects of the narcotics and likely saved the man’s life. In the last year, the Police Department attributes six lives saved because of the administration of NARCAN by Officers.
NARCAN Nasal Spray, the first nasal formulation of naloxone, is FDA approved for the treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose. Designed for use in the community, NARCAN Nasal Spray is needle-free and ready to use.
NARCAN Nasal Spray counteracts the life-threatening effects of an opioid overdose. Since most accidental overdoses occur in a home setting, it was developed for first responders, as well as family, friends, and caregivers—with no medical training required. However, the Santa Barbara Police Department provides extensive training on how to properly administer NARCAN in the field. Each Patrol Officer carries NARCAN in their unit.
Annually, the Santa Barbara Police Department applies for and receives medical clearance to use NARCAN from the State’s Chief Medical Officer at the California Department of Public Health in the form of a Standing Order.
Additionally, the Police Department receives the actual NARCAN devices from the Naloxone Distribution Project (NDP) which funded by U.S. Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration and administered by the California Department of Health Care Services. The Project serves to combat opioid overdose-related deaths throughout California.
The NDP aims to address the opioid crisis by reducing opioid overdose deaths through the provision of free naloxone, in its nasal spray formulation. Since October 2018, the NDP had distributed over 440,000 units of naloxone, and recorded over 19,100 overdose reversals.
If you know someone that suffers from an opioid addiction, you too may qualify for free NARCAN. Visit www.dhcs.ca.gov to learn more.
it is a privelege to live on this earth – it is not an entitlement
GETOFF – not every person who tries an opiate wants to die. Some folks try it out of curiosity and do too much. I bet a lot of people you know have tried them at one time or another. Don’t be so judgmental.
Sac who is judging who?
GETOFF – you are by assuming that all people who ingest an opiate are hoping to die. Pretty straightforward.
A lot of OD’s are recovering addicts who relapse, which is especially common now with rising social isolation and unemployment. They shoot up what they did before without realizing their tolerance went down and the supply has changed. Fentanyl is also an increasing problem.