Crime & Safety

Police Use Heroin Antidote in Cinnaminson Incident

It was the first time the antidote has been used in Burlington County.

Less than a week after the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office reported that police departments in the county will begin carrying the heroin antidote Narcan, the nasal form of Naloxone, two overdose victims were revived within hours of each other on Sunday.

The first use of Narcan took place around 3:30 p.m. after Cinnaminson Police Department Patrolmen Kevin Bohn, Richard Calabrese and Thomas Lillagore responded to the 1500 block of Broad Street for a well-being check.

When they arrived, the officers found an adult male unconscious and lying on his back. The man had a pulse but was experiencing labored breathing in an irregular, gasping pattern.

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The officers began rescue breathing on the man. The home is located on the border of Cinnaminson and Riverto, and the Riverton Police Department responded to offer assistance.

Riverton Police Department Patrolman Jeff Walker administered Narcan on the subject who then immediately awoke and began breathing on his own.

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The victim was transported to an area hospital for a medical evaluation by Palmyra Riverton Cinnaminson Emergency Medical Services.

Walker had completed his departmental training on the use of Narcan five days earlier.

“With the ongoing heroin epidemic Narcan is invaluable,” Riverton Borough Police Chief John Shaw said. “As a responding officer it is always valuable to have additional tools to utilize to perform our jobs at the highest level possible. The team work that was demonstrated by the Cinnaminson and Riverton Police officers on scene saved the life of this individual. I’ve always respected the mutual cooperation of our local police departments and this is a fine example of that.”

The second incident occurred around 10:40 p.m. on Delaware Avenue in Riverside.

Riverside Police Department Patrolmen Anthony Cicali and Robert Settimio responded to a call for an adult male suffering from a possible diabetic episode.

When they arrived, the officers found the victim unconscious, unresponsive and breathing in a labored manner.

The officers determined he had suffered from a heroin overdose and administered Narcan. After a few seconds, the victim began to slowly regain consciousness.

The Delran Emergency Squad, along with Medics, performed advanced treatment, stabilized the subject and transported him to a hospital for observation.

“I believe had it not been for the quick action of the officers involved the victim in this incident may have sustained life threatening injuries, possibly even death,” Riverside Police Capt. William Eliason said. “The mission of our officers is to help the public in any way possible and is our highest priority. Police throughout the State of New Jersey have seen a dramatic rise in drug overdose deaths, and Riverside has not been spared. The Narcan program will undoubtedly save lives. It is the hope of the community and the Riverside Police Department that people suffering from any type of drug or alcohol addiction seek help, and for bystanders to know that they will not be charged with any type of criminal offense for calling 9-1-1 for assistance for any type of possible drug overdose they witness."

For many people who fatally overdose on heroin, death comes because they have stopped breathing.

The Narcan antidote provides the person with the ability to breathe again.

After it is administered, overdose victims will be given a medical evaluation, according to the antidote program’s protocol.

Last year, legislators passed the Opioid Antidote and Overdose Prevention Act, which made it legal for law enforcement officials to carry Naloxone/Narcan, a heroin antidote previously only available to hospital staff. It was previously only available to nurses and medical staff.

The act doesn't limit possession and administration of the antidote to police officers. It provides immunity for witnesses and drug overdose victims, and allows both healthcare professionals or pharmacists and non-healthcare professionals to dispense the antidote in emergency situations.

The average amount of time it would take a hospital employee to administer the antidote is 15 minutes, while police can administer within two to four minutes and family and friends who possess the antidote can administer it immediately

Initially, law enforcement agencies in Monmouth and Ocean counties began carrying the inhalant form of Narcan, the brand name of Naloxon.

It is also in use in Cape May County, and has been used to save lives in Camden County.

Last month, Gov. Chris Christie announced law enforcement agencies in all 21 counties will receive training on how to administer the antidote.

Last week, the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office announced Naloxone had been distributed to 30 municipal police departments as well as the Burlington County Sheriff’s Department. More than 60 officers were trained to administer the antidote.

The complete list of departments carrying the antidote include Bordentown City, Bordentown Township, Burlington City, Chesterfield, Cinnaminson, Delanco, Delran, Eastampton, Edgewater Park, Evesham, Fieldsboro, Florence, Lumberton, Mansfield, Maple Shade, Medford Lakes, Medford Township, Moorestown, Mount Holly, Mount Laurel, New Hanover, North Hanover, Palmyra, Pemberton Borough, Pemberton Township, Riverside, Riverton, Springfield, Westampton and Willingboro.


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