By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
Manville police revived an unresponsive apparent overdose victim by giving him a Narcan injection at 11:04 p.m. Feb. 11 on South 13th Avenue, marking the fourth time in a less than six months borough police have used the medical kits to reverse the effects of a narcotics overdose.
The man, 42, and from Bridgewater, was taken to Robert Wood Johnson Somerset for further treatment. One hypodermic needle was secured and discarded properly at headquarters.
Narcan kits 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 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 a local hospital by emergency medical services personnel.
More than 200 Narcan nasal spray emergency opioid overdose kits have been purchased for delivery to local law enforcement agencies as a result of a partnership formed with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, formerly Somerset Medical Center.
“When the opioid antidote program was developed and proposed for statewide release, I could not think of a better partner to reach out to,” Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano said then. “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, located in Hillsborough Township.
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.
Opioid antidote programs have been credited with saving dozens of lives in Ocean and Monmouth counties, the prosecutor said in September.
