Cops: Man's Heroin Overdose Reversed by NARCAN

Thanks to quick thinking by a Morris Township police officer and the implementation of Naloxone, a Morris County man was saved from a potentially fatal drug overdose.

At 9:32 p.m. Wednesday, Morris Township patrolman Ryan Farrell responded to the Homeless Solutions facility on West Hanover Avenue for a report of an unconscious male in the bathroom, Chief John McGuiness said.

When Farrell arrived he found Jason Markovits, 26, of Wharton, in the bathroom with a weak, slow pulse and was unresponsive, McGuiness said. His lips were also blue, which indicated a lack of oxygen, McGuiness said.

Farrell then used Naloxone, better known as NARCAN, which combats heroin and opiate overdoses. Farrell administered one does of the drug into each nasal passage of the victim, and within two minutes Markovits became responsive, McGuiness said.

Sgt. Martin Tessmer arrived at the scene and collected an uncapped hypodermic needle, seven packets commonly used to hold narcotics and other drug paraphernalia, McGuiness said.

Markovits was transported to Morristown Medical Center by the Morris Minute Men for further treatment.

“(Patrolman) Ryan Farrell should be commended for saving the life Mr. Markovits,” said McGuiness in a statement. “The ‘seven’ folds recovered in the bathroom and the poor medical condition of Markovits clearly indicated this young man’s life was in danger.”

It was Morris Township Police Department’s first administering of NARCAN after members were trained in October 2014, McGuiness said.

Photos Courtesy Morris Township Police Department