Donald Palma Jr., Chief of Police
99 Pleasant Street
Groton MA 01450
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Groton Police Respond to Suspected Opioid Overdose
GROTON — Chief Donald Palma Jr. reports that the Groton Police Department and Emergency Medical Services saved a resident’s life yesterday by deploying nasal Naloxone to combat a suspected opioid overdose.
Marketed under the trade name Narcan, the drug is an opioid antagonist that quickly reverses the effects of a potentially fatal overdose by displacing the drug from the receptors in the brain. It has minimal side effects, is not dangerous if administered to a person who is not overdosing, and it has no potential for abuse.
On Monday, Jan. 18, police and EMS were dispatched to a residence on Court Street for the report of an unconscious male.
Sergeant Jason Goodwin, K-9 Officer Nicholas Beltz and K-9 Lola responded to the scene where they found an unresponsive 23-year-old male. Officers initiated CPR and deployed the AED.
Minutes later, Groton EMS arrived on scene, assumed patient care, and administered Narcan during transport to Nashoba Valley Medical Center.
The resident regained consciousness and was able to speak with medical personnel.
“It is vital that first responders are equipped with this life-saving drug in order to help combat this terrible disease of addiction,” Chief Palma said. “This resident is alive today because emergency responders administered Narcan.”
Opioid overdoses are currently one of the leading causes of death in Massachusetts and no community is immune to the problem. Former Governor Deval Patrick declared it a public health crisis and Governor Charles Baker has made addiction education and prevention a priority for his administration.
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