9 Overdose Deaths Have Occurred In Petaluma This Year, Police Say

PETALUMA, CA — Thus far in 2018, the Petaluma Police Department has responded to 49 calls involving overdoses — nine of which have resulted in death. Because of this, Petaluma police are requesting that members of the community promptly call 911 at the first signs that someone may be overdosing or having a medical emergency.

"The majority of these cases resulting in death have involved the use of opiates or other synthetic opioids such as Fentanyl," Petaluma police officials said. "These numbers do not include those cases that the Petaluma Fire Department responds to independently, or incidents where family and friends self-transport overdose victims to local hospitals themselves."

Further, police said, someone dies every eight days in Sonoma County as a result of an accidental drug overdose. Annually, the county of Sonoma averages 476 emergency visits for accidental drug overdoses, resulting in an average of 44 deaths.

Tragically, some of these deaths that have occurred could possibly have been prevented had medical attention been provided sooner, Petaluma police said Friday. Petaluma police officers carry NARCAN and have been provided training on the use of the anti-opioid medication.

"Petaluma Police Department would like to remind everyone in the community that Section 11376.5 of the California Health and Safety Code prohibits the arrest or prosecution of any person under the influence of narcotics, in possession of narcotics, or in possession of drug paraphernalia when they seek medical assistance for a person experiencing an overdose and they do not obstruct medical or law enforcement personnel," Petaluma police said.

PPD continues to work diligently to reduce the amount of narcotics available in the community, with the department's most important goal being to keep narcotics and prescription medications out of the hands of the youth of the community, department officials said.

In addition to requesting members of the public promptly call 911 at the first sign of an overdose, police also reminded the community that unwanted or unused prescription medications can be dropped off 24/7 in the lobby of the police department.

More information related to opioids and accidental overdoses is posted on the county's website.

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