It happened again, another life nearly lost, another round of Narcan, another heartbreaking “no” when help was offered.
Just after 2 p.m., Portsmouth Police and EMS were called to 5th and Brown Streets after reports of a woman lying in the middle of the road, unresponsive from a suspected overdose.
Revived in the Street
- When medics arrived, they found the woman barely breathing.
- Narcan, the opioid-reversing drug, was administered on the spot.
- Within moments, she began to regain consciousness, a familiar scene that plays out far too often across Scioto County.
Officers and paramedics worked together to make sure she was stable. The QRT (Quick Response Team) made up of police, EMTs, and recovery specialists arrived soon after to offer immediate treatment options.
But She Said No
Despite being revived from the brink of death, the woman refused to go to the hospital and turned down offers of rehab or recovery services.
And legally, that’s her right.
Police and medics can save a life, but they can’t force someone into treatment unless they pose an immediate danger to themselves or others.