Santa Maria, Calif. – Custody deputies at the Northern Branch Jail successfully deployed Narcan to two inmates who were experiencing opioid overdoses. On Saturday, September 30, 2023, at approximately 4:56 p.m., custody staff noticed a female inmate laying on the floor of her cell. Custody staff entered the cell and noted that the inmate had blue lips and was unresponsive, both indications of an apparent overdose. Custody staff called for an emergency medical response and gave the inmate two doses of Narcan. The inmate eventually regained consciousness and was transported to an area hospital for follow-up care.

As the first inmate was being transported, custody deputies noticed her cellmate also exhibiting signs of an apparent overdose. Custody staff called for a second ambulance and administered two doses of Narcan. The second inmate regained consciousness and was also transported to an area hospital for treatment.

The Sheriff’s Office would again, like to remind the public of the dangers of opioids and opioid overdose, as well as the importance of recognizing the signs of an opioid overdose and accessibility to the opioid reversal drug, Narcan. Opioid overdose can be due to many factors including deliberate misuses of a prescription, illicit opioid use (such as heroin), or use of an opioid contaminated with other even more potent opioids (such as fentanyl). Overdose can also occur when a patient takes an opioid as directed but for which the prescriber miscalculated the opioid dose, when an error was made by the dispensing pharmacist, or when the patient misunderstood the directions for use. In each of these scenarios, it is vital to recognize and be prepared for a possible life-threatening opioid overdose emergency. The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the public that we continue to offer FREE Narcan at each of the Sheriff’s substations.  Members of the public can come to the lobby of ANY Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Station during business hours, obtain information about a short instructional video and receive Narcan.

Below is list of Sheriff’s Office locations where the public can receive FREE Narcan:

Buellton Sheriff’s Station
City of Buellton Police Department
140 W. Highway 246
Buellton, CA 93427
(805) 686-8150

Coastal Bureau Sheriff’s Station
City of Carpinteria Police Department
5775 Carpinteria Ave
Carpinteria, CA 93103
(805) 568-3399

Goleta Valley Patrol Bureau
City of Goleta Police Department
4434 Calle Real
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 681-4100

Isla Vista Foot Patrol
6504 Trigo Rd.
Isla Vista, CA 93117
(805) 681-4179

Lompoc Valley Sheriff’s Station
3500 Harris Grade Rd.
Lompoc, CA 93436
(805) 737-7737

New Cuyama Sheriff’s Station
70 Newsome St.
New Cuyama, CA 93254
(661) 766-2310

Santa Maria Sheriff’s Station
812 W. Foster Rd.
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 934-6150

Santa Ynez Valley Station
City of Solvang Police Department
1745 Mission Dr.
Solvang, CA 93463
(805) 686-5000