Suffolk police save man from overdose

A 21-year-old man, overdosed on heroin and passed out in a vehicle, was found early Thursday in Kings Park and revived with the help of Suffolk County police.

Responding to an unrelated call in the Kings Plaza parking lot, 66 Indian Head Rd., Fourth Precinct Officer Thomas Spica spotted the man at 12:06 a.m., passed out in the driver's seat of a vehicle with its engine running, police said. The man had a hypodermic needle in his lap, police said.

Officers Douglas Nassisi, Patricia Davis and Kenneth Kaufold also responded, and a dose of intranasal Narcan was administered, as well as rescue breathing, police said.

Another dose of Narcan was administered when Kings Park Rescue members arrived and took the man to St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center in Smithtown. There, a third dose was administered, and the man regained consciousness, police said.

No charges have been filed against the man, a police spokeswoman said.

Suffolk County police are participating in a state-funded pilot program that provides first responders, including police, with the fast-acting opiate antidote naloxone hydrochloride, known as Narcan. Suffolk officers from participating precincts had saved 22 lives as of early December, county officials said.

All precincts are now participating in the program, as well as the Marine Bureau and Emergency Service Section.