The Campbell Police Department says training in the use of a nasal spray saved a man’s life earlier this month.

All police officers with the department are now trained to administer Narcan nasal spray, a substance that counteracts the effects of an opioid overdose, according to the department.

The department says training and the supply of the substance were made possible through a partnership with the Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services, which facilitates the new program.

According to Capt. Gary Berg, officers received training in March. The nasal spray is located with each AED found in a patrol car. When officers respond to a medical call, the AED will be taken out along with other medical supplies.

Police officers had to put their training to the test on Aug. 3 when there was a call at 9 p.m. to a Walgreens located at 1570 W. Campbell Ave. Store employees told the officers there was an unresponsive man in the bathroom suffering from some type of medical emergency.

Two officers found the 22-year-old man slumped over on the floor with approximately 20 syringes next to him, police said. Responding officers administered the Narcan nasal spray to the man.

Police said the man became alert approximately 10-20 seconds after the spray was administered. The Santa Clara County Fire Department arrived to continue medical treatment, and the man was transported to Valley Medical Center, where he was released several hours after recovery.

Opioids, including prescription opioids and heroin, killed more than 33,000 people in 2015—a record high, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to Cheryl Blankenship, a quality improvement coordinator for Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services, the spray only works for people who have taken opioids, such as oxycodone, morphine, fentanyl and heroin.

“It will not work for someone who has taken cocaine or meth,” Blankenship said.

Distribution of the nasal spray and training for its administration began in August 2016, according to Joy Alexiou, public information officer with the Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System

Individuals can receive training and a kit from any one of the three methadone clinics within the county.

“People who carry the medication get instructions on how to safely administer the medication and other aspects of preventing overdose deaths including reducing opioid use, recognizing an overdose, calling 911 and administering CPR,” Alexiou said.

Before the nasal spray was distributed, syringes and vials were given to people to use in case of overdose.

“Some people may not be able to administer the needle during an emergency,” Blankenship said. “The Narcan nasal spray is more user-friendly.”

The program is funded with the assistance of grants and supplies from the state, which covers syringes, sharp containers for safe disposal of used needles and related materials to reduce infections related to drug use, according to Alexiou.

The county contributes additional funds to cover the cost of the nasal spray.