In county overdose crisis, nasal spray has saved 100 lives

EVERETT — One hundred lives in Snohomish County have been saved by police equipped with naloxone, a nasal spray that reverses opioid overdoses, county officials announced Tuesday.

About 900 local law enforcement officers have learned how to administer the drug, which also is sold under the trademarked name Narcan, since a countywide training program began in spring 2015, according to Snohomish County Human Services.

The drug is one weapon in the fight against heroin and prescription drug abuse.

Snohomish County has been hit hard by the nationwide opioid crisis. In a single week this summer, the Snohomish Health District documented 37 overdoses. Three of those were fatal.

Everett police used the drug to a revive a woman, 40, who had overdosed Sept. 6 on Hoyt Avenue, the hundredth reversal by law enforcement since the program began.

Saving those lives gives people a chance to get into treatment, said Dave Somers, the county executive, in a written statement.

“These paths of recovery are not easy,” Somers said, “but far better than burying our family members and loved ones.”