(Camden, NJ) – Camden County Police Department officers have now saved the lives of 190 overdose victims using Narcan since they first began deploying with the anti-opiod medication in May of 2014.
On Thursday, April 14, at 5:18 p.m., Officer Joshua Berry responded to the area of 7th Street and Kaighn Avenue to investigate an overdose report. Inside a vacant building, Officer Berry located a man who was unconscious and not breathing after having used heroin. Officer Berry administered Narcan to the victim who became alert after EMS personnel arrived. The victim was then transported to Virtua Camden for further treatment.
On Tuesday, April 12, at 7:16 p.m., Officer Nicholas Marchiafava responded to the 100 block of N. 24th Street where he located an unresponsive man who was struggling to breathe after using heroin. Officer Marchiafava administered Narcan and after EMS personnel arrived the victim began to regain consciousness before being taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.
On Monday, April 11, at 8:19 a.m., Officers Louis Trocchio and Nicholas Sherman responded to a single-car accident at the corner of 4th Street and Kaighn Avenue. The officers observed that the driver – Mark Welsh, 35, of Gloucester City – was blue in the face and unconscious. Officer Trocchio administered Narcan and Welsh soon began to regain consciousness. Welsh received further treatment at Virtua Camden and, after being released, was arrested on outstanding warrants from Evesham Township, Gloucester City and Deptford. He was charged with five offenses from the motor vehicle accident including Driving Under the Influence and Reckless Driving.
On Friday, April 8, at 6:51 a.m., Officers Robert Schwartz and Nicholas Sherman responded to the 100 block of S. Broadway where they located a man who was unresponsive and struggling to breathe while experiencing a heroin overdose. Officer Sherman administered Narcan and the victim began gasping for air but remained unconscious. The victim was then transported to Cooper University Hospital to receive further treatment for the overdose.
And on Thursday, March 31, at 2:45 p.m., Officers Kevin Smith and Joshua Berry responded to the 1100 block of Sheridan Street where they located a man experiencing a heroin overdose behind an abandoned building. Officer Berry administered Narcan and the victim became responsive before being taken to Cooper University Hospital for treatment.
To date in 2016, there have been 123 recorded drug overdoses in the city, including six fatal overdoses. The Camden County Police Department has issued public safety alerts about the danger to drug users purchasing narcotics in the city. Anyone with information about the distribution, sale or use of drugs should call the department’s anonymous tip line at (856) 757-7042.
At an Oct. 7, 2015, ceremony honoring police officers who have used Narcan to save lives, Camden County Freeholder-Director Louis Cappelli Jr. announced the launch of Operation SAL, a pilot program to provide detoxification and addiction treatment/rehabilitation services to overdose victims in the county. For information about Operation SAL and other available treatment services for drug users and families, including crisis hotline numbers, visit the Camden County Addiction Awareness Task Force website at addictions.camdencounty.com. For addiction help call the CRISIS hotline at 877-266-8222 or call 911 in the event of an emergency.