Delonte West Issued Narcan Before Obstruction, Public Intoxication Arrest

delonte west getty 1

Delonte West was administered the potentially life-saving drug, Narcan, before being put in handcuffs and arrested earlier this week, TMZ Sports has learned.

We broke the story ... the 42-year-old former NBA player was taken into custody in Fairfax County, Virginia, on Monday, after the local police department received a call for a man who was found unconscious and not breathing.

delonte west mug shot Fairfax County PD

Our sources tell us that when cops and EMS arrived, West was breathing ... but was still administered the Naloxone spray, an opioid antagonist, which rapidly reverses the effects of opioids, out of an abundance of caution.

We're told Delonte refused a ride to…