Dupage Policy Journal

Officers from the Naperville Police Department, as part of the DuPage County Narcan Program (DNP), recently used a nasal dose of Narcan to revive a suspected overdose victim.

It was the first time that Naperville officers have used Narcan. 

Responding to a report of an unconscious female in an apartment in the 700 block of Benedetti Drive, police and fire officials found a 17-year-old woman displaying signs of a drug overdose. A nasal dose of Narcan was administered, waking the woman. She was then transported to Edward Hospital.

“The most important impact we can have as police officers is saving lives,” Naperville Police Chief Robert Marshall said. “In this case, the Narcan program and the officers involved have saved a life, but it will take the combined efforts of our community to make sure that life becomes productive and drug free."

The DNP was implemented in November 2013. The program has been credited with saving 36 lives so far. It was recently adopted by the Naperville Police Department as a tool to combat heroin-related problems. Officers responding to the unconscious female were trained and equipped with Narcan only days before the incident.

Naperville is home to approximately 145,000 people and consistently ranks as a top community in the nation in which to live, raise children and retire. The city is known for its exceptionally low crime rate, acclaimed public and parochial schools, the best public library system in the nation, and an array of health care options.