Nether Providence police using drug to treat heroin overdoses

NETHER PROVIDENCE, Pa. (WPVI) -- Police in Delaware County say they are using the drug Narcan, an antidote to heroin overdose, with more effectiveness than ever before.

Case in point, two recent incidents in Nether Providence Township, Pennsylvania.

"We found a 23-year-old female unconscious lying on the floor. She was very gray in color," said Nether Providence Police Sgt. Michael Montgomery.

Not breathing and with a very faint pulse, police say it was believed to be a heroin overdose.

Nether Providence Officer William Sweeney rushed to get a Naloxone kit, now carried in all patrol cars.

They administered the first one, then a second dose of the drug into her nostrils.

"Within a couple minutes, the female started to breathe. We got a pretty strong pulse," said Montgomery.

It was the second life saved in as many as days by Nether Providence officers using the drug, a tool they did not have until just recently.

"I've been doing this for 22 years, I've seen a lot of tragedies and we've never had this tool as something we can administer on scene," said Nether Providence Police Officer Kevin Smith.

"In two days, these gentlemen have saved two lives, and I'm really proud of them and it's a true credit to their profession," said Nether Providence Police Chief Dave Splain.

The life-saving effort is part of a county-wide program created by District Attorney Jack Whelan.

Since the program began 15 month ago, 195 lives have been saved across Delaware County, police say.

"We're gonna do whatever we can to prevent the loss of a life, but it's been a very difficult task because of the severe epidemic that we're facing with this heroin," said Whelan.

Whelan says Delaware County has led the Commonwealth in saving lives with this effort.

Admittedly, they can't save everyone, but for the officers it's deeply satisfying to save a life.

"We're told not to bring this job home, but this is very important to us that we can go home knowing that we saved a life," said Nether Providence Police Officer Michael Coverdale.