Narcan Used 8 Times During Past 2 Years in New Canaan

NEW CANAAN, CT- Anti-overdose drug Narcan has been used eight times by New Canaan paramedics within the past two years.

The drug in many cases can halt an opioid overdose in its tracks and allow a victim to get additional treatment at a hospital. It is often administered via an intranasal spray.

The state legislature passed a bill that mandates municipalities equip their initial emergency responders with Naloxone.

Related: CT Heroin Epidemic: Interactive Map of Deaths by Town

The drug worked reversed five of the eight cases. The other three cases were found to be non-opioid overdoses, according to the New Canaan Advertiser.

Heroin was involved in 327 Connecticut deaths in 2014 compared to 415 in 2015. Other opioids such as oxycodone and fentanyl were involved in other deaths, as well.

Heroin and other opioids continue to wreak havoc in Connecticut as there were more than 600 overdose deaths in 2015 where at least one opioid was detected, according to data from the Office of the State Medical Examiner.

Heroin, morphine and/or codeine was detected in 444 deaths in 2015 compared to 349 in 2014, 286 in 2013 and 195 in 2012. Other opioids, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, methadone and fentanyl were responsible for other deaths.