PRINCETON: Police help save victim of drug overdose

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
Quick actions by two Princeton police officers helped to save the life of a 32-year-old man who was believed to have been experiencing a drug overdose at his home May 24.
Police Sgt. Thomas Lagomarsino and Patrolman Andre Lee were called to investigate after the victim’s roommate reported that he was unresponsive.
When the police officers arrived, they found him gasping and breathing irregularly.
Believing the man may have been experiencing an opioid overdose, they administered Narcan to him. The Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad arrived and gave him a second dose of Narcan, which is a nasal spray that counteracts opioids.
As they were getting ready to take additional measures, the Narcan took effect and the man regained full consciousness.
The man was referred to Recovery Advocates of America for treatment as part of the Princeton Police Department’s recently initiated Princeton CARE (Community Addiction Recovery Effort) program.
Police emphasized that overdose victims and those who report the overdose will not be charged with a crime in relation to the use and possession of a drug at the time of the overdose, under the state Overdose Protection Act.