FORT SMITH, Ark. — On Wednesday (Sept. 1), a Fort Smith Police Officer became unresponsive after coming into contact with the synthetic opioid Fentanyl during part of a multi-agency investigation.
The Fort Smith Police Department (FSPD) says the officer was given two doses of Narcan nasal spray but it did not give what they say is the "desired result". The third dose of Narcan was then given to the officer in a shot, which gave the desired result.
FSPD says the officer is recovering after being transported to a local hospital for treatment and observation.
"We are grateful for this outcome, especially knowing the tragic possibilities of a fentanyl exposure," said FSPD in its press release. "FSPD officers are equipped with Narcan thanks to the generosity of the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Smith."
In August 2020, Fort Smith police received a $15,000 grant from the First Presbyterian Church to purchase thousands of doses of Narcan, they say they will have plenty in stock for the foreseeable future.
"Today, their generosity likely helped saved one of our own," said FSPD.
Since March of this year, the Fort Smith Police Department has saved 11 people from deadly overdoses with the help of Narcan. Every Fort Smith officer carries a pack of Narcan nasal spray with two doses in their kits, in-case of unpredictable situations.
FSPD has responded to 188 calls of opioid overdoses since January 2020.
"We see a lot of heroin overdoses and oxycodone overdoses; those are the two most that people overdose on when they do. Narcan is very effective at helping to get a response out of those types of individual cases," said Officer Aric Mitchell, Fort Smith Police.
Last week (August 24th), the Sebastian County Detention Center used Narcan to save two inmates and two deputies after they were exposed to Fentanyl that had been smuggled into the jail. The jail used every dose of Narcan they had that day, their supply was given to them by Fort Smith police.
"We gave both inmates four doses each, the most you're allowed to give. At the end of the fourth dose, they came back and started breathing, for all intents and purposes, they were brought back to life," says Captain Will Dumas.