Melrose Police Revive O.D.ed Wakefield Man With Anti-Opiate Nasal Spray

Sometimes when officials discuss the opiate epidemic ravaging Middlesex County, they focus on education and preventive efforts. And that’s all well and good.

But Monday night, Melrose Police say they demonstrated a tactic for helping people currently overdosing on heroin and similar drugs, as opposed to people who might overdose on heroin later.

According to a statement from the department, two officers arrived at the scene of a 9-1-1 call on 2 Grove St., to discover an unidentified 38-year-old Wakefield resident O.D.ed in the bathroom.

An officer administered two nasal hits of naloxone - brand name “Narcan” - and the individual began to show subtle signs of life. Thereafter, a quick intravenous hit of naloxone was administered, and the man was transported to Melrose-Wakefield Hospital.

Narcan is what’s called an “opioid antagonist” designed to reverse the effects of an opiate overdose.

Melrose Police say they’ve used it on overdosed individuals eight times since December, when all Melrose cruisers were required to keep a bottle on hand.

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