The following is a press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:
On 03-06-2022 at approximately 10:33 A.M. Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to an adult male suffering from a mental health crisis at a residence in Hopland, California.
Deputies were advised the adult male had attempted to commit suicide via various means.
Deputies responded to the location along with a Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist (Mobile Crisis Unit partnership between Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and Mendocino County Mental Health with Measure B funding for crisis workers).
Deputies arrived and contacted the spouse of the adult male, who stated he had ultimately ingested a large amount of opioid pain pills (Hydrocodone). Deputies requested an ambulance to respond to the scene.
Deputies and the Mental Health Specialist observed the adult male exit his residence, and they attempted to speak with him from a distance so they did not provoke any violent reaction from him.
The adult male spoke with Deputies and Specialist for a short time.
Deputies then noticed the adult male’s physical demeanor change drastically. Deputies noted the adult male became very lethargic and he ultimately began to collapse in the driveway.
Deputies approached the adult male and began to evaluate his condition. Deputies noted the adult male had stopped breathing and only had a faint pulse.
Deputies administered a single 4mg dose of Narcan Nasal spray to the adult male and noted his pulse became stronger for a short time, but he was still not breathing.
Deputies then administered a second 4mg dose of Narcan Nasal spray to the adult male and again noted an improvement in his pulse. The adult male also began taking shallow breaths.
Medical personnel arrived a short time later and took over life saving measures on the adult male.
The adult male was ultimately transported to a medical facility for both mental health and medical treatment.
In April 2019 the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) began to issue NARCAN® (Naloxone HCI) nasal spray dosage units to its employees as part of their assigned personal protective equipment. MCSO’s goal is in protecting the public and officers from opioid overdoses. Access to naloxone is now considered vital in the U.S. The Center for Disease Control. At that time, the California Opioid Overdose Surveillance Dashboard reported Mendocino County ranking, per capita, 3rd in all opioid overdose deaths. (https://discovery.cdph.ca.gov/CDIC/ODdash/). Refer to dashboard for current updated ranking information. Narcan nasal spray units are widely known to reverse opioid overdose situations in adults and children. Each nasal spray device contains a four milligram dose, according to the manufacturer. Naloxone Hydrochloride, more commonly known by the brand name NARCAN®, blocks the life-threatening effects of opioid overdose (both medications and narcotics) including extreme drowsiness, slowed breathing, or loss of consciousness.
The antidote can reverse the effects of an overdose for up to an hour, but anyone who administers the overdose reversal medication in a non-medical setting is advised to seek emergency medical help right away. The spray units can also be used by Public Safety Professionals who are unknowingly or accidentally exposed to potentially fatal amounts of fentanyl from skin absorption or inhalation.
The issuance of the Narcan nasal units, thus far, have been to employees assigned to the Field Services Division and the Mendocino County Jail medical staff. Employees are required to attend user training prior to being issued the medication.
Sheriff Matthew C. Kendall would like to thank Mendocino County HHSA Public Health for providing the Narcan nasal units to the Sheriff’s Office free of charge as part of the Free Narcan Grant from the California Department of Public Health.
Since the April 2019 issuance, there have now been (9) nine separate situations wherein Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Sergeants/Deputies have administered NARCAN and saved the lives of (9) nine people in need of the life saving antidote medication.
In October 2021 the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office received a grant from the California Naloxone Distribution Project through the Department of Health Care Services to help maintain an inventory of the live saving antidote.
The 192 dosage units will be distributed to the Field Services Division and Corrections Division as current inventories from Mendocino County HHSA Public Health are being exhausted.
Sheriff Matthew C. Kendall would like to thank the California Naloxone Distribution Project through the Department of Health Care Services for awarding the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office with the Naloxone grant to better help protect his employees and the public.
Editors Note:
Many aspects of the Emerald Triangle’s rural lifestyle lend themselves to suicide risk factors. Those risk factors, as described by the Center for Disease Control, include barriers to health care, social isolation, and high rates of adverse childhood experiences,
Please remember, if you or a loved one are suffering from mental distress there are many resources that can be accessed including:
- The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-6264, info@nami.org
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): (800) 662-4357
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): (866) 615-6464
- Mental Health America Hotline: Text MHA to 741741
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
- Crisis Text Line: Text CONNECT to 741741
In efforts to educate the public regarding suicide prevention, the following infographic from the National Institute of Mental Health provides guidance in warning signs associated with suicide:
Good job Deputies! I hope the man finds his way to choose life instead of the alternative. Thank you for adding the follow up article and the help lines for folks to call. Look out for friends and loved ones in these trying times.
Let him go.. it’s God’s decision where he goes and you are keeping him from his constitutional right to the pursuit of happiness. Many things wrong with going against his free will and rights! Ban Narcan now!!
Covid isolation protocol is the Zyklon B in a world wide Final Solution
Killing us softly