Sep 4, 2015 3 min read

Washington County recently made national headlines with 25 drug overdoses reported in two days, three of which resulted in death.

With the administration of naloxone, more commonly known as Narcan, some were saved.

Canonsburg police administered the antidote to a woman Aug. 16 in the parking lot of a Cavasina Drive business, then assisted emergency medical personnel who administered it on East Pike Street in Houston. That same day, Donora police administered the drug to a man. On Aug. 17, emergency responders revived a woman who was locked inside a Washington pharmacy bathroom with her 2-year-old daughter.

“It’s no secret in August we had a horrendous month,” said Cheryl Andrews, executive director of Washington County Drug and Alcohol Commission. “Had it not been for those trainings … there could have been a much higher death toll.”

The commission joined with Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone’s office, providing Narcan kits and training to emergency responders throughout the county. So far, 10 police departments, 16 volunteer fire departments and six ambulance services participated.

Andrews said in August alone, 12 reversals were performed by police and fire departments in the program.

Act 139, passed in September 2014, allows first responders to carry and administer Narcan. In April, Gov. Tom Wolf made it a standing order for state police to carry the drug, and Troop B officers, including those in Washington and Waynesburg, were among the first to be trained in administration.

Narcan works to reverse the effects of opiates, including heroin and prescription drugs like oxycodone. Once a person overdoses, their breathing can begin to slow or stop within minutes. Typically sprayed in the nose, Narcan can reverse the effect quickly.

City resident Georgia Ballentyne, who is unopposed on the Republican ticket for one of two available council seats, questioned during Thursday’s council meeting why Washington police officers do not carry the drug.

Washington police Chief Chris Luppino said both the full-time city fire department and paramedics carry and are trained to administer Narcan. He said both departments have a similar response time to police.

“Wouldn’t police be more suitable?” Ballentyne asked, saying that people who have been given Narcan can become agitated.

“We’re leaving that up to the medical experts to administer. I feel our job is enforcing drug laws,” Luppino said. “Our role in combatting this epidemic is to make arrests.”

If Washington were more rural, thus delaying response times, Luppino said, “I would absolutely consider it. I’m not against it.”

Andrews said it is important for people other than paramedics to have access to Narcan.

“Overdoses can happen anywhere,” she said. “Unfortunately, sometimes an ambulance is not available.”

Vittone agreed that it’s important to have the drug readily available. He said August saw higher-than-normal reports of overdoses, with 80 calls and six deaths in the county.

“It’s good stuff to have,” he said of the antidote. “I would like to have it available everywhere to save lives.”

Andrews said police officers – some of whom were resistant to the idea at first – have found saving lives “incredibly gratifying.”

“These aren’t people who just woke up one day and decided to start using heroin. A lot had legitimate prescriptions,” she said of the overdose victims. “It’s our job to reduce the stigma … and introduce them to a world of treatment options.”