Fentanyl overdoses on the decline thanks to Narcan training, police say

More officers receiving lifesaving training is leading to fewer overdose deaths in the Capital City.

Capitol Police said back in October, Officer Deantye Crockett responded to an emergency call at the Regal Inn Motel on Terry Road, where a woman had collapsed on the sidewalk from what officials would discover was an overdose.

In a situation where every second counted, police said Crockett quickly responded to the scene and began administering CPR. After questioning witnesses at the scene as he administered CPR, Crockett came to the conclusion that he needed to administer Narcan to the collapsed woman.

Upon arriving on the scene, fellow officer William Dear helped by grabbing Crockett's Narcan inhaler from his vehicle, so Crockett could quickly administer it to the victim.

Due to his medical training in CPR and Narcan application, the officers were able to save the woman's life.

It was later determined that the victim was smoking crack laced with what experts believe to have been fentanyl.

Capitol Police said overdose deaths have recently been declining, and they believe training of first responders to administer Narcan is a major reason for the decrease.

According to Capitol Police, Mississippi saw 92 fentanyl overdoses in 2024, down from 258 reported overdoses in 2023.