Good timing a lifesaver in Swampscott

SWAMPSCOTT – The Swampscott Police Department had no sooner received a supply of the pocket-sized bottles of the opioid antidote Narcan Wednesday when it was time to use one of them to save a life.Police received a call shortly before 10 a.m. about an unresponsive man on Paradise Road, and officer Candace Doyle administered the drug to him and revived him, police said.?Upon arrival, and based upon information obtained through the initial call and evidence at the scene, Doyle administered Narcan to the individual at which point the party immediately regained consciousness,” according to a police report.Det. Sgt. Timothy Cassidy said all 34 officers on the force can administer Narcan.?Heroin/opioid abuse is an ongoing problem,” Cassidy said. “We haven?t seen as many overdoses in Swampscott as some other towns and cities, but it?s definitely on the rise.”Swampscott Police also respond to calls in surrounding communities, such as Lynn, Nahant and Marblehead.Cassidy said Narcan is simple to use. Officers spray it into the victim?s nose if he or she is unconscious. Police were formally trained last month.He said since Narcan is pocket-sized, officers will either carry it in their pockets or in a small duty bag.Police said they are almost always the first responders on the scene in crises, such as this one.