Camden police have saved nearly 40 overdose victims using Narcan

Posted on: September 15th, 2014 by sobrietyresources

on September 15, 2014 at 4:36 PM, updated September 15, 2014 at 4:49 PM

Camden County Police Department Officers Edwin Cortez and Benjamin Patti have saved the lives of three more drug overdose victims over the last week using Narcan, authorities reported. On Sunday, Sept. 7, just before 2 p.m., Cortez responded to the corner of Broadway and Liberty Street where a man who had used heroin was unconscious and turning blue inside a vacant building, police said. Cortez administered one dose of Narcan and the man soon became responsive and alert before being taken to Cooper University Hospital for further treatment.

Cortez responded to another heroin overdose — at Broadway and Clinton Street — on the morning of Friday, Sept. 12, after being flagged down by a pedestrian. Cortez found a man lying on the ground unconscious in a vacant lot. He administered a dose of Narcan but the victim remained unresponsive. EMS arrived and administered a second dose before transporting him to Cooper for further treatment.

On Saturday, Sept. 13, around 10 a.m., Patti responded to the 1100 block of Baring Street where a man who had used heroin was unconscious in an alley behind a vacant home, police said. Patti administered two doses of Narcan, and the man began to regain consciousness after the second dose. He was then taken to Cooper for further treatment. With these three incidents, Camden County Police Department officers have now saved the lives of 38 overdosed drug users by administering Narcan.

South Jersey Times may be reached at [email protected]. Follow us on Twitter @theSJTimes. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.