OCSD deputy administers Narcan to patient in suspected opioid overdose, saves a life

Ozark County Sheriff’s Deputy Cecilia Boatner was dispatched to an Isabella residence on Highway 160 at 6:18 p.m. July 15 when someone called 911 to report that a 28-year-old man had overdosed on opioids. 

When she arrived on scene, the individual was unresponsive, blue in color and had a weak pulse, according to Ozark County Sheriff Cass Martin. 

Boatner immediately administered Narcan, a nasal spray medication that works as a fast-acting remedy for opioid overdose. The man was then transported by ambulance to Baxter Regional Medical Center in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Due to confidentiality restrictions, the individual’s current condition was not available to the Times. 

In a Facebook post about the incident, OCSD credited the efforts of the Ozark County Substance Abuse Task Force, the Missouri Overdose Rescue and Education (MORE) Project and the Ozark County Health Department, which have all worked hard over the last few years to ensure that Ozark County law enforcement and first responders are equipped with Narcan. 

“We are extremely proud of Deputy Boatner and grateful to the MORE Project and the Ozark County Health Department for providing our deputies with this life-saving drug,” the OCSD post said. 

OCSD urges those who are struggling with substance abuse to call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) help line at 1-800-662-HELP. The call is confidential, free and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The organization can provide referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups and community-based organizations that can help provide support when it is needed the most.