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After five years on the job, Deputy Nic Russell feels the weight of the opioid epidemic. In 2017, 45 people died from an opioid overdose in Sacramento County, according to government data.
The Sacramento County deputy just saved a known criminal's life with this drug called Naloxone, also known as Narcan, which reverses the effects of an overdose. The man saved was being arrested for driving a stolen car.
"Out on patrol, we see it very often, so the high majority of people we contact have meth pipes on them, have syringes or dope on them," Deputy Russell said. "So for me it’s fairly common to contact someone and they have some type of drug or paraphernalia on them."
So common that officers became worried for their own safety as well as people considered to have a drug problem.
"For me, it doesn't seem like they are attempting to get better or they even care to get better," he added. "They are looking for their next high, so after a while, you get jaded and it becomes a daily occurrence."
Through a partnership with the Sacramento County Public Health Department, law enforcement agencies in Sacramento County now carry Naloxone to help save lives. The drug is also available for officers in case they come into contact with a dangerous substance that could cause them to overdose.
"At first, I thought it was not going to be used" Russell said. "It was one of those things that they were going to give us, that would sit in our car and we would never use it."
Just last week on May 18, Russell used it and saved a man's life.
The man he saved was arrested for driving a stolen car.
"After I told the driver he was going to jail for possession of a stolen vehicle, he told me he had taken heroin," Russell explained. "Four ounces or three grams of heroin, and he slumped over and I talked to my partners and we were like, 'Hey, well, we have the Narcan so let's try, and use Narcan.'"
Ten departments were given the life-saving kits.
"If we can save one life, which we did the other day, I believe it's worth it," said Shaun Hampton, a Sergeant with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office. "It's worth that responsibility and just that little bit of extra training we need."
Some people argue what's the point in saving the lives of drug users or criminals. Critics argue the person being saved may use drugs again or commit more crimes.
"They have a choice, and if we can help them influence that choice and maybe change their direction in life then you know what, we are going to do that," Sgt. Hampton said.
Even Deputy Russell said he's gone back and forth on the argument.
"In this instance, yeah it was a criminal who had been arrested twice before for possession of stolen vehicle," Russell explained. "Drug user and abuser. The ultimate umbrella — it's still a human life. I've wrapped my head around it's still a human life. We still talk about it in the locker room. It's a drug abuser and car thief and we wouldn't use it on him. But we did and we saved his life."
Starting July 1, all incoming deputies with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department will be trained to use Naloxone.
Follow the conversation on Facebook with Madison Wade.