25th Life Saved From Opioid Overdose By Lake County Deputies

Lake County Sheriff's deputies have saved the lives of 25 people by reviving them from overdoses so far in 2017. In the 10 months of the year, members of the sheriff's office have now administrated the opioid antidote naloxone (Narcan) more times than in the previous two years combined.

Most recently, sheriff's deputies were called to a report of an overdose in a parking lot in the 20500 block of North Rand Road, Deer Park, according to Sgt. Christopher Covelli. Deputies found a 23-year-old man unconscious and not breathing in the passenger seat of a vehicle.

The other people in the car told cops the man had passed out after injecting heroin. He was given naloxone, regained consciousness and began to breath again before being taken to the hospital, Covelli said.

“It’s clear we are in the midst of an opioid epidemic – and our statistics prove this," Sheriff Mark Curran said. "In 2016 we saved the lives of 13 people and in 2015 we saved 11 lives. We want the community to know – if you are in need of help, just ask."

The average age of the 25 people saved by sheriff's deputies this year is 29, the sheriff's office said. Lake County Coroner Howard Cooper told the Daily Herald there have been at least 45 deaths from opioid overdoses this year in the county, compared to 46 last year and 51 in 2015.

Find more information on addiction treatment and combating substance abuse from Lake County.

_{Top photo via Patch archive}