New London — Lawrence + Memorial Hospital treated four people for suspected heroin overdoses within the span of less than four hours late Monday afternoon. 

All individuals were administered Narcan and survived, said hospital spokesman Michael O'Farrell.

In addition to the four individuals treated Monday afternoon at L+M, two more calls came in to area police and fire departments in the evening for what may have been drug overdoses.

O'Farrell said Monday evening that four possible overdoses at the hospital in one day raises a "red flag," when considering that the hospital's average had been about two suspected overdoses a week, prior to a spike in January. He said that the hospital has hit somewhat of a "lull" in overdose cases since then.

But he said it would be impossible to say whether the overdoses would continue through the night or Tuesday, or to speculate on a particular reason for them at this point. He said the hospital relies on police and others to determine that information.

In late January, the state Department of Public Health and the Connecticut Poison Control Center issued a statewide alert about a potent strain of heroin that was being sold in New London. Between Jan. 27 and Feb. 5., L+M treated 22 overdose patients, according to earlier news reports.

At around 3:40 p.m. Monday, Waterford police responded to a suspected heroin overdose in the parking lot of Walmart on Waterford Parkway North. 

Police administered the opioid reversal drug Narcan to a 25-year-old man, whose last known address was in Ivoryton, said police Sgt. Roger Reed. The man was then transported by ambulance to L+M and was conscious and alert. 

New London police responded to two suspected overdoses on Monday, said Deputy Police Chief Peter Reichard. 

At around 3:20 p.m., a 22-year-old man, whose last known address was in Chester, was dropped off by others at L+M Hospital, after he overdosed, he said.

Earlier in the day, at 2:28 p.m., the city's police and fire departments responded to a medical call at 64 Maple Ave. and found a 32-year-old man, whose last known address was in Waterford, in distress from a possible overdose of narcotics, said Reichard. 

The EMTs found the man was not breathing and exhibiting signs of cyanosis, meaning he appeared purple in color, according to Fire Battalion Chief Roger Tompkins.

They decided to administer Narcan to the individual, and he was transported by New London Ambulance to Lawrence + Memorial. Within six or seven minutes of arriving at the hospital, he was breathing, conscious and alert, said Tompkins.

There was also an overdose in the Poquonnock Bridge section of Groton on Monday. Narcan was administered to the individual, who regained consciousness, said Groton Town Police Chief Louis J. Fusaro, Jr.

Shawn Mawhiney, spokesman for The William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich, said the hospital did not receive any suspected heroin overdoses on Monday.

k.drelich@theday.com