From overdoses to suspected drug use in public spaces, Portsmouth police and medics spent the day chasing calls that highlight how deeply addiction continues to impact the community.
Fire Station Overdose
At 11 a.m., officers responded to the Hilltop Fire Station on 17th Street after a report that a female passenger in a vehicle had overdosed. Medics treated her at the scene, and the Quick Response Team was called in. But the woman refused treatment and declined to go to the hospital. Her driver eventually took her away.
Repeated Crisis Calls
At 5 p.m., a woman called 911 to report a friend on Center Street who said she was “dying.” The caller believed her friend was overdosing due to slurred speech and nodding off. Officers and EMS responded, but the woman appeared fine.
Just two hours later, Portsmouth Ambulance called 911 to say the same woman had shown up at their office under the influence and refused to leave. Police told her to stay out of the garage and sent her on her way.
Needle Use in Wayne Hills
A caller from 17th Street reported seeing a man and woman openly shooting up drugs on the porch of a Wayne Hills apartment. By the time police arrived, the pair had left. Officers said they would continue patrolling the area and advised residents to call 911 immediately if the duo returned.
Clinic Scare
EMS also responded to the Shawnee Animal Clinic after reports of an unresponsive man leaning against the rails of the grooming building. Staff feared the worst. But when medics arrived, the man said he was fine and simply waiting for a ride.
Taken together, these calls paint a picture of a community still struggling under the weight of addiction. From people refusing treatment after overdoses to reports of drug use in broad daylight, officers say the cycle of crisis calls is constant.
The incidents serve as a reminder that while first responders continue to answer the calls, the drug crisis in Portsmouth and Scioto County shows no signs of letting up.
