Menu Close

East Bridgewater Police Warn of Recent Spike in Drug Overdoses in Plymouth County

Monday, Feb. 26, 2018

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

East Bridgewater Police Warn of Recent Spike in Drug Overdoses in Plymouth County

More Than 20 Overdoses and Three Deaths in Past Week

EAST BRIDGEWATER — Chief Scott Allen and the police chiefs of the Plymouth County SUDs Outreach Network are seeking to warn residents about a recent increase in drug overdoses throughout the region.

Over the past four days, there have been more than 20 overdoses and three suspected overdose deaths in Plymouth County. Public safety and health officials report that they have also seen an increase in the amount of the overdose-reversing drug naloxone (Narcan) being used to revive a person suffering from an overdose.

“Not only are we seeing more overdoses, but the amount of Narcan needed to reverse an overdose has increased substantially,” Chief Allen said. “This indicates to us that there could be a more potent form of heroin and/or fentanyl around currently. We want everyone to be aware and to know that Narcan is available.”

About three years ago, a person suffering an overdose in Plymouth County would need an average of about two to six milligrams of naloxone to be revived. Now, the dosage needed is typically double or triple that amount.

Over the past two weeks, some individuals throughout Plymouth County have needed between eight to 24 milligrams of naloxone to reverse their overdoses:

  • 16 mg used in East Bridgewater on Feb. 16
  • 8 mg used in Rockland on Feb. 15
  • 24 mg used in Wareham on Feb. 15
  • 12 mg used in Wareham on Feb. 14
  • 8 mg used in Brockton on Feb. 13
  • 12 mg used in Whitman on Feb. 11
  • 14 mg used in Whitman on Feb. 11

In each of those cases, the person was successfully revived.

Narcan is available for opioid users and their family members and loved ones at pharmacies, regional Learn 2 Cope meetings, the Community Outreach, Prevention and Education (COPE) Center in Brockton and local drop-in centers throughout the county. A calendar of dates and locations of drop-in centers can be found HERE. Other Plymouth County Outreach partners also provide access to Narcan, including Scituate’s South Shore Peer Recovery Center and Manet Health in Hull.

Chief Allen would also like to remind residents of the Good Samaritan Law. Individuals that call 911 in the event of an overdose will not be prosecuted, unless they have enough drugs to be considered trafficking or if they have an outstanding warrant.

Plymouth County Outreach is a collaborative of police departments throughout Plymouth County led by the following chiefs: Abington Chief David Majenski, Bridgewater Chief Christopher Delmonte, Bridgewater State University Chief David Tillinghast, Brockton Chief John Crowley, Carver Chief Marc Duphily, Duxbury Chief Matthew Clancy, East Bridgewater Chief Scott Allen, Halifax Chief Ted Broderick, Hanover Chief Walter Sweeney, Hanson Chief Michael Miksch, Hingham Chief Glenn Olsson, Hull Chief John Dunn, Kingston Chief Maurice Splaine, Lakeville Chief Frank Alvihiera, Marion Chief Lincoln Miller, Marshfield Chief Phillip Tavares, Mattapoisett Chief Mary Lyons, Middleboro Chief Joseph Perkins, Norwell Chief Ted Ross, Pembroke Chief Richard Wall, Plymouth Chief Michael Botieri, Plympton Chief Patrick Dillon, Rochester Chief Paul Magee, Rockland Chief John Llewellyn, Scituate Chief Michael Stewart, Wareham Chief Kevin Walsh, West Bridgewater Chief Victor Flaherty and Whitman Chief Scott D. Benton.

###