PORT ANGELES — A potentially deadly heroin overdose was reversed Friday thanks to an antidote deployed by Port Angeles police.
Cpl. Josh Powless and Officer Sean Ryan were dispatched to a report of an accidental overdose on the 200 block of East Vashon Avenue at 2:27 p.m., Deputy Police Chief Brian Smith said.
When they arrived 2½ minutes later, police discovered a 29-year-old man who was not breathing and did not have a pulse.
As they began CPR, Powless administered a 0.4-milligram dose of naloxone, which temporarily blocks the effects of heroin or other opiate drug and helps a person who is having an overdose breathe.
Powless injected a second dose into the man’s muscle tissue. The man regained a pulse and began shallow breathing, Smith said.
City fire department paramedics and emergency medical technicians, who arrived minutes after police, used advanced life support measures and administered more doses of naloxone, Smith said.
“Within 15 minutes of the initial call, the patient was conscious, talking and able to stand up,” Smith said.
Based on the man’s quick recovery after the administration of naloxone, personnel on scene determined that the opiate overdose was reversed by the antidote, Smith said.
The Port Angeles Police Department recently secured 64 naloxone auto injectors through a grant from Kaleo, a Richmond, Va.-based pharmaceutical company.
Officer Sky Sexton applied for the grant and helped train other officers to use the auto injectors in March.
Part of the reason police wanted the antidote is because they often arrive to medical calls before emergency medical technicians.
On Friday, the first-line fire ambulance and engine were assigned to other calls when the overdose was reported.
“In a case like this, a minute can be a lot,” Smith said in a telephone interview.
The man who had the overdose was taken to Olympic Medical Center for evaluation.
Officers believe he had injected heroin intravenously.
The incident was the first time Port Angeles police have used naloxone to reverse an overdose.
“We were excited that we were able to do that,” Smith said.
The department is the only law enforcement agency on the North Olympic Peninsula that carries the drug.
Public health officials have said more law enforcement agencies should have access to naloxone.
________
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.