Pubdate: Tue, 14 Jul 2015
Source: Daily News, The (Newburyport, MA)
Copyright: 2015 Eagle Tribune Publishing Company
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/k3oQxseR
Website: http://www.newburyportnews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/693
Author: Angeljean Chiaramida

IN SEABROOK, TWO SAVED FROM DRUG OVERDOSES

SEABROOK -- Two overdoses within 30 minutes of each other Friday 
morning indicate the heroin epidemic isn't letting up.

Seabrook's firefighters responded and were able to save both lives, 
according to Seabrook police Acting Sgt. Kevin Gelineau. The 
situation spotlights what's still happening every week in town, in 
spite of prevention efforts mounted by police, the courts, advocates, 
the media and others.

On Friday, one overdose took place in a private residence, but the 
other was all too public. The victim was in a car on Route 1, when 
family members realized there was a problem, pulled over and called 
for help, said Gelineau, who believes the drug involved in both cases 
was heroin.

"They were both brought back by emergency responders from the 
Seabrook Fire Department who used Narcan," said Gelieau, who answered 
both calls. "This is just a sample. We are answering several calls a 
week for drug overdoses if you take all shifts. There's more and more 
drug use."

One of Friday's victims agreed to being transported to Exeter 
Hospital, Gelineau said. The other individual who was in the car 
refused transport by EMTs. The victim was eventually taken to the 
hospital, Gelineau said, which is what's needed after such a 
life-threatening incident.

"Some people think all they need is Narcan," Gelineau said. "That's 
not true. Please tell people that overdose victims need to seek 
medical care from a properly equipped medical facility. Narcan (an 
opiate blocker) isn't enough."

Unable to identify the victims at this time, Gelineau said, police 
intend to charge one of them with possession of illegal drugs.

Both victims had previous convictions and were on either probation or 
parole, he said. Using illegal drugs violates the terms of probation 
and parole and can send individuals back to jail or at least placed 
on a hold for further investigation.

Seabrook attorney Jeff Brown is a member of the New Hampshire Parole 
Board. He said that the procedure involved is for probation officers 
to place offending parolees on a 72-hour hold until the decision is 
made whether to sign a warrant to rescind probation or parole, 
sending them back to jail.

"I sign several warrants of this nature every week," Brown said. "And 
more and more relate to drug use, such as this."
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