Intoxicated Driver Who Was Given Narcan Not Charged With DUI

In an unusual case, a man was given Narcan to counteract an overdose and police stated that because of this they were unable to charge the “obviously impaired driver with DUI.” Earlier this summer, a man (who was not identified in news reports) was spotted driving erratically down Georgia 92 westbound. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, other drivers witnessed the man hit a number of different cars and “forced at least one driver off the road.” One of the witnesses stated, “I saw him start driving up on the sidewalk and he was driving on the wrong side of a narrow, two-lane road.” Witnesses called authorities and several drivers “tried to warn other drivers and attempted to box the car in before it pulled into a school parking lot.”

When officers arrived on scene, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that they found the driver to be “'extremely lethargic' and ‘in and out of consciousness.'” A spokesperson for the Roswell Police Department stated that, ““It became pretty apparent the driver was under the influence of some type of narcotics where they had to administer Narcan to the driver to revive him.” Narcan is a nasal spray that can be used to help someone who may be overdosing on an opioid drug. Since there has been an increase in opioid use in recent years, some police departments are starting to carry it with them in case they come across someone who is overdosing on drugs. 

Actions News Jax stated that because the man was given Narcan, “police were unable to determine what drugs were in his system in order to charge him with DUI.” The driver and his wife, who was also in the vehicle and appeared to be on drugs, were brought to the hospital to be treated. However, the driver did not get off scot-free; he was charged with two counts of hit-and-run and given a ticket.

Georgia is just one of many places that has been affected by the opioid epidemic. The New York Times reported that last year about 64,000 people died from opioid drug overdoses, which is currently the largest number on record. Overdosing on drugs is also “the leading cause of death for Americans under 50.”

A conviction for driving under the influence of drugs in Georgia can lead to significant penalties including fines, jail time, and license suspension. If you have been arrested for DUI–Drugs in Gwinnett County, please do not hesitate to contact Gwinnett County DUI Attorney Richard Lawson today.