By Nathan Mayberg
WEST MILFORD — West Milford police recently saved a local heroin user from the brink of death by utilizing the anti-opioid medication Narcan.
Police sprayed the Narcan into the 27-year-old man's nasal cavity to revive his breathing.
Police were called to the man's residence on Oct. 20 at about 9:34 p.m. by his mother, West Milford Police Lt. Keith Ricciardi said.
West Milford Police Sgt. James McDaniel and Officer Jason Healy administered the nasal spray to the man. He had "very shallow breathing" and a "very, very weak pulse," Ricciardi said. "He was completely out of it."
"There was a good chance he wasn't going to make it," without the medication, Ricciardi said.
A few minutes after the nasal spray was delivered, the overdose victim began to breathe normally and speak, according to a press release issued by the department.
According to police, the victim said he ingested two bags of heroin. He was transported to Chilton Hospital where he was treated and released.
Police searched the residence afterwards and reported finding 10 empty bags and one syringe in the home.
They also located Jessica Harris, 22, of Wayne, who was allegedly found hiding in the home. Police learned that she was wanted on a warrant out of Glen Rock. She was arrested, processed at West Milford Police headquarters and released to the Glen Rock Police Department.
Police have only had the Narcan for about a month, Ricciardi said.
The medication is required to be carried by all police departments in New Jersey. Every department is trained on how to use it, Ricciardi said.
"There are mixed feelings in the community on this," Ricciardi said. He said there have been negative comments on the department's Facebook page by those who believe the department should not be administering the drug and spending money on the medication.
Ricciardi said his department doesn't see things that way.
"We're here to serve and protect," he said. "Just because these people put themselves in harm's way doesn't mean we shouldn't help them. We have to save them, just like we would any other person," Ricciardi said.
Ricciardi said the negative views expressed on Facebook about the department's new tool were "unappreciated."
Heroin has been an issue in the community, he said. "We're having a problem with heroin."
His department has seen other heroin overdoses, though none fatal so far this year. "There have been a couple close calls," Ricciardi said.