Mass. Emergency Crews Use Narcan to Revive Two Brothers
Sept. 18--The use of Narcan once again is being touted as sparing lives -- this time, the lives of two brothers who live on Shepherd Street and appeared to overdose consecutively and within minutes of each other earlier this week.
Police said Thursday that no arrests have been made, but police and emergency crews responded to a residence there at 6:53 p.m. Tuesday "for a man who overdosed and was barely breathing," according to city officer Andrew Knickle's report.
Three officers found the man "on the kitchen floor unresponsive," Knickle wrote.
One of the officers was able to administer Narcan, the report continues. Fire Department paramedics arrived shortly afterward, were able to push air into the man's lungs and he regained consciousness.
The man "was able to get up, though he seemed confused," according to Knickle.
Officials transported the man to Addison Gilbert Hospital, but -- before they even reached the hospital -- an officer back at the scene reported that another man who was at the house was laying out in front of it on the ground.
"Paramedics also used Narcan to help this man," Knickle wrote, adding that this was the brother of the man already on his way to AGH. He, too, was brought to the hospital.
Narcan, which is carried by all Gloucester emergency crews, is used to temporarily reverse the effects of an overdose due to opioids, often heroin.
But when police spoke with the resident of the home, she said the trio were eating dinner when the first overdose victim collapsed.
"She denied there was any drug use going on," according to Knickle. The report noted that the only drug found in the home was a prescription for Trazodon, made out for the second man transported to the hospital.
"At the hospital both men were alert and talking," Knickle wrote. "Neither one could explain what had happened, other than they smoked weed and drank alcohol."
Arianna MacNeill can be reached at 978-675-2710 or at amacneill@gloucestertimes.com. Follow her on Twitter at @GDTArianna.
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