(Snellville, Georgia) Gwinnett County Police are crediting officers administering Narcan (Naloxone) with saving the life of a potential Heroin overdose victim. Shortly after 1 a.m., February 8, 2016, police responded to a noise complaint in Snellville. As police approached the house, they heard a woman yell, “Help he stopped breathing!” Police walked into the house and found an unresponsive male. The male exhibited shallow breathing, a dry mouth, constricted pupils, and a fresh injection site mark on his arm. Police recognized those signs being consistent with heroin use. Police were also told that fifteen to thirty minutes before their arrival, the male had taken heroin.

Recognizing the immediate danger that the male faced, officers immediately retrieved their assigned Narcan kit and deployed it as they had been trained. The male had a positive reaction to the medication and became responsive. He was immediately transported by paramedics to an area hospital where he arrived in stable condition. Narcan intranasal spray is intended for immediate administration as an emergency therapy but is not a substitute for emergency medical care. 

Gwinnett County Police were equipped with Narcan May of 2015. There are currently seventy units of Narcan that are ready for deployment if the need arises. The Narcan kits have been used a total of three times thus far with positive results. Residents and commuters in Gwinnett County can continue to expect officers to be equipped with this tool across every district, every shift, and every day of the year. We are committed to serving the community and protecting the lives and quality of life in Gwinnett County.