Pubdate: Thu, 15 May 2014 Source: Republican, The (Springfield, MA) Copyright: 2014 The Republican Contact: http://www.masslive.com/contactus/ Website: http://www.masslive.com/republican/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3075 Author: George Graham Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?132 (Heroin Overdose) Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/naloxone WEST SPRINGFIELD FIREFIGHTERS USE NARCAN TO REVIVE 2 VICTIMS SUFFERING SUSPECTED HEROIN OVERDOSES WEST SPRINGIELD - The fire department, the first in the area to equip its fire engines with Narcan, has already employed it twice to revive two patients suffering from suspected heroin overdoses. The fire department began carrying the nasal-spray version of the drug on it's engines about two months ago. Deputy Chief Steven A. Manchino, who is also ambulance director for the department, said the Narcan was used to good effect on April 28 and May 7. In both instances, engine crews revived the victims before ambulance crews, who also carry the drug, arrived. In East Longmeadow, meanwhile, American Medical Response personnel used Narcan Thursday morning to revive a person suspected of suffering from a heroin overdose, Police Sgt. Patrick Manley said. That victim is expected to be okay, he said. Both Manley and Manchino, citing medical privacy laws, declined to release any additional information on the suspected overdoses. Manchino said, however, that heroin overdoses in West Springfield are occurring almost every day. Last week, a suspected heroin overdose took a life, he said. Again citing medical privacy laws, Manchino declined to provide any additional information on the death. West Springfield police were not immediately available for comment. Manchino said the heroin problem began to spike in West Springfield about 5 years ago and is currently at an all-time high. "It's across all demographics. It's not like it's just limited to certain groups," he said, adding however that users seem to be getting younger. Recently, a 16-year-old suffered a suspected heroin overdose, Manchino said, adding that that particular victim recovered. Manchino stressed that effects of Narcan last only for a short time and that those who are revived with it need immediate medical attention. "The concern is the Narcan is going to wear off and patients who are not transported (for emergency medical attention) could be in a very difficult situation where they could possibly die," he said. A blast of the drug into a victim's nose can begin counteracting the effects of an opioid overdose with astonishing rapidity, officials have said. "I have used it in the field before," Manchino said. "It increases your respiratory rate in a very short period of time - almost 30 seconds." Late last month in Deefield, Narcan was used to revive three females suffering from suspected heroin overdoses, Police Chief John Paciorek Jr. said. Despite its successes, Narcan has its share of detractors who fear that it encourages opioid abuse. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom