By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
Medical kits to reverse the effects of a narcotics overdose began to be distributed in early August to all of Somerset County’s police departments and county Sheriff’s Office.
Within days, one kit was used for an overdose reversal in Manville.
On Wednesday, Aug. 27, within one hour after receiving training in the administration of the opioid antidote, Manville police officers Richard Ozieblo and Christopher Morrison were dispatched to a residence in Manville for a call of a 19-year-old woman who was exhibiting signs of an opioid overdose.
Officers found the female unresponsive, and officers employed their newly acquired skills and administered nasal Narcan to her. Within minutes, the female regained consciousness and was transported to al ocal hospital by emergency medical services personnel.
Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano said, as a result of a partnership formed with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, 209 Narcan nasal spray emergency opioid overdose kits have been purchased for delivery to local law enforcement agencies.
"The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and, for that matter, law enforcement throughout Somerset County, have had a long-standing and robust relationship with RWJUH Somerset (formerly Somerset Medical Center)," said Mr. Soriano. "When the opioid antidote program was developed and proposed for statewide release, I could not think of a better partner to reach out to. RWJUH Somerset supplied all of the kits necessary for our entire program in Somerset County."
On Aug. 1, officer-coordinators from each of Somerset County’s law enforcement agencies, including the Somerset County Jail, attended training at the Somerset County Emergency Services Training Academy,l ocated in Hillsborough Township.
The training was conducted by Dr.Kenneth Lavelle, an EMS medical director and a clinical instructor of emergency medicine at Sidney Kimmel Medical College in Philadelphia. Dr. Lavelle served as medical advisor to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office when law enforcement there developed a successful pilot program for the administration of opioid antidotes. That program was eventually released to law enforcement agencies throughout the state.
Agency officer-coordinators have been training other officers in their respective agencies. Once an officer completes the training, they are certified in the administration of opioid antidotes, such as Naloxone.
In Manville, the officer-trainer was Lt. John Crater.
"We’ve enjoyed a mutually supportive relationship with the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office," said Vincent D. Joseph, executive vice president of RWJUH. "Having previously partnered with the Prosecutor’s Office on its public awareness campaign to stop texting and driving, we saw an opportunity to lend our support and resources to provide local law enforcement officials with the proper supplies to effectively respond to emergency situations in an effort to save lives within our community."
Opioid antidote programs have been credited with saving dozens of lives in Ocean and Monmouth counties, the prosecutor said. He said he expects Somerset County’s program to be fully implemented by mid-September.

