Local News

Heroin Ruled Out as Cause of Scary Road Trip

(La Porte County, IN) - A frightening situation on a La Porte County road ending in a crash has been linked to the driver’s use of a legally prescribed drug.

 

According to the La Porte County Sheriff’s office, a 911 call Monday night indicated a sport utility vehicle was “driving in and out of cornfields and ditches” in the 9300 block of East 200 South. A few minutes later, the driver was located in the vehicle at the bottom of a ditch.

 

Police said the 63-year driver was unconscious and barely breathing. He didn’t regain consciousness until after being given two doses of Narcan, a heroin antidote credited with saving the lives of countless users of the illegal drug over the years.

 

The man revealed to police that he had taken the painkiller, Percocet, as prescribed by his physician. He also denied using any illegal drugs.

 

Officers were puzzled, though, on why the heroin antidote worked to reverse the effects of a painkiller. It was soon discovered Percocet also contains another painkiller, Oxycodone which, like heroin, is classified as an opioid. 

 

The man was taken to a hospital, and since no illegal drugs were involved, the case was closed.

 

Users of Percocet are advised to use caution while driving because potential side effects include drowsiness and difficulty breathing. 

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