Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff John C. Garcia announced today that two individuals at the Erie County Holding Center received emergency medical care for suspected opioid overdoses.
On June 16, a 26-year-old male was admitted to the Erie County Holding Center after being arrested in the Town of Hamburg. During the booking process, upon observing a change in demeanor and slurred speech, deputies immediately notified jail medical personnel. The individual became unresponsive while being evaluated, and Narcan was administered. An ambulance was called to transport the patient to the Erie County Medical Center (ECMC). Shortly thereafter, a second dose of Narcan was administered. While awaiting the arrival of the ambulance, jail personnel continued to provide emergency medical care. Medical reports indicate that additional Narcan was administered in the ambulance and again at ECMC.
It was reported that benzodiazepines, opiates, and alcohol were present in his system. The use of opioids, especially fentanyl, has resulted in a dramatic increase in overdoses.
The second incident occurred on Sunday, June 18, 2023. Deputies responded to a housing area after a 54-year-old female collapsed and was unresponsive. Deputies and Correctional Health staff performed CPR and administered two doses of Narcan. The female was revived and was transported to ECMC for additional treatment.
Sheriff Garcia states, “This is not the tobacco or marijuana of the past. This is fentanyl and other drugs laced with fentanyl. This stuff is deadly in very small quantities and kills very rapidly.”
In addition to the increase in overdoses, the Sheriff’s Office is seeing increased delays in response times by ambulance services in Buffalo and Alden, where the Erie County Correctional Facility is located. In an effort to provide additional protection from harm, Sheriff Garcia is working in collaboration with the Erie County Division of Emergency Medical Services to add full-time paramedic service to the sheriff’s office. This plan will expand the current agreement that has provided EMT training to more than 30 Deputies and integrated Erie County Sheriff’s Deputies in medical responses throughout the county.
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