By Mike De Felice
Special to Kitsap Daily News
PORT ORCHARD – In the last 72 hours, Port Orchard Police Department officers responded to three separate incidents of opioid overdoes involving victims who ingested non-prescription fentanyl pills. In each case, officers administered Narcan and were able to revive the individuals.
It is unknown if the substances involved in the three incidents are related, police officials said. Fentanyl is described as a powerful opioid used as a pain medication and also combined with other medications for anesthesia. It is also used as a recreational drug.
“We don’t have enough information yet to know if there is a bad patch going around,” Police Chief Matt Brown told Kitsap Daily News Friday afternoon.
“We want people to pay attention and be careful,” Brown said.
On Thursday, officers responded to a residence to deal with an individual in cardiac arrest after taking an unknown amount of an opioid, according to police. Two doses of Narcan were needed for the victim to regain consciousness. The person refused further treatment or medical transport by South Kitsap Fire and Rescue, officials reported.
On Wednesday earlier in the week, officers responded to another residence for a report of in-progress cardiopulmonary resuscitation. After identifying signs of an overdose, officers continued CPR and administered Narcan, according to a police department statement. SKFR arrived and administered a second round of Narcan before the victim regained consciousness.
And a day earlier, officers responded to a business on Bay Street after receiving a call for assistance for a woman who was non-responsive and not breathing. A community member was already engaged in CPR. When officers arrived, they continued CPR and administered two doses of Narcan, officials said. SKFR arrived as the woman regained consciousness.
“We are incredibly grateful that our officers were trained, equipped and in a position to save the lives of three members of this community,” Brown stated. “All lives have value, and our hope is with each save, we can help those struggling get closer to treatment.”
Narcan program
The Port Orchard Police Department began using Narcan in 2019 to revive those impacted by an opioid overdose. The Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office established the Narcan program in 2017. The sheriff’s office supplies most local police agencies with the medication, which is administered in the form of a nasal spray. The Suquamish Tribe uses a different form of medication.
The Narcan program has been a lifesaver, according to the police chief.
“The program has been very successful. If you have someone in distress with a suspected overdose and you can bring them back to life, it’s an incredible success,” Brown said.
In 2021, there have been four Narcan applications by Port Orchard Police. In each instance, the effects of the opioid overdose were successfully overcome, the police chief added.
Under the program, all officers are supplied with Narcan kits. The approximate cost for two doses is $70, officials said.
What happens during an opioid overdose?
According to the Narcan website, prescription or illegal opioids such as fentanyl can affect the part of the brain that controls breathing. An overdose victim can experience breathing problems and severe sleepiness, rendering them unable to respond, which can potentially lead to death.
Administering Narcan nasal spray, a prescription medicine, is designed to rapidly reverse the potentially life-threatening effects of the overdose temporarily, according to the manufacturer.
The efforts this week of three Port Orchard officers involved in two of the overdose incidents – Sgt. Andrew Brandon and officers Nathan Lynch and Stephen Morrison – are expected to be reviewed for nomination for one of the department’s “lifesaving” awards, Brown said.
