BURLINGTON — City police officers used a drug effective at reversing opiate overdoses for the first time Thursday to revive a 56-year-old Colchester man who was suffering from an apparent overdose, officers said.
Police received a call at roughly 9:30 p.m. that a car was stopped in traffic. Responding officers found the driver without a pulse and exhibiting signs of an opiate overdose. One of the officers determined the man had a police history involving heroin.
They deployed naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, using a nasal injector, which revived the man within minutes of the first dose, according to officers. In all, he was given three doses.
Firefighters and emergency first responders have long carried Narcan, but Burlington police officers started carrying it last month.
The man was then placed under arrest for driving under the influence of drugs. Police did not identify the man in a news release. The department’s community affairs officer was able to find him a slot in a residential drug treatment program through Valley Vista that would start next week.
In a subsequent tweet, the Burlington Police Department called for drug treatment to be available “on demand,” meaning immediately when a person decides they’re ready.
That’s an elusive goal for Burlington and the region, as demand for drug treatment continues to outpace its availability.
Our cops saved a life, made an arrest, secured a treatment slot. We need treatment on demand for all Vermonters. pic.twitter.com/RM63ioqjvs
— Burlington Police (@OneNorthAvenue) February 26, 2016
