Bend Police, Fire medics respond to four fentanyl overdoses in just six hours Tuesday, use Narcan to help all four survive
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- In the span of just six hours Tuesday, Bend fire medics and police officers responded to four fentanyl overdoses, helping all four survive by administering Narcan.
This happened just a day before Deschutes County commissioners voted on party lines (with Phil Chang abstaining) to enact a 90 day countywide fentanyl state of emergency, although it's unclear if it will bring any extra resources to the county.
Shortly before 8 a.m., Bend Fire & Rescue and the police responded to an overdose on fentanyl at Second Street and Franklin Avenue. The person survived.
About five hours later, just before 1 p.m., police responded to two people with reported fentanyl overdoses in the parking lot of the eastside Jimmy John's. First on the scene was Bend Police, who for years now carry Narcan, a life-saving overdose reversal drugs. They were able to administer it to the pair overdosing, helping save their lives.
Just 46 minutes later, authorities responded again to a fentanyl overdose in the Second Street and Franklin Avenue area. Police and fire medics also were also able to help this person live. Because of HIPAA police protections, police and fire officials couldn't reveal their names.
The four overdoses in such a short amount of time stretched Bend Fire & Rescue's resources to the brink, according to EMS Chief Drew Norris. For a typical overdose call, they respond with an ambulance and two engines.
The next day, Deschutes County Commissioners enacted a fentanyl state of emergency. Though all three agree commissioners agreed on the seriousness of the fentanyl crisis, Democrat Phil Chang abstained, saying the measure lacked anything of substance. While the order doesn't include any new policies or resources, commissioners DeBone and Adair think the awareness it will raise makes the declaration worth it. Both have lobbied the Legislature in recent days to make changes to Measure 110 and want drug possession to be a Class A misdemeanor, not a violation.
In 2022 Deschutes County had 25 deaths from drug overdoses, though more than 100 lives were saved by people who administered Narcan. In 2023, the county created the Opioid Overdose Response Team.
