It’s Time To Talk About Naloxone

I’m writing this week to raise awareness of a lifesaving drug that most do not know or talk about. Upon reviewing recent overdose statistics, I felt it was important to share those statistics along with a readily available tool to fight overdose deaths: Naloxone.

First, let’s look at overdose statistics. According to https://www.cdc.gov/ drugoverdose/data/index. html “Overdose deaths involving opioids, including prescription opioids, heroin, and synthetic opioids (like fentanyl), have increased almost six times since 1999. Overdoses involving opioids killed nearly 47,000 people in 2018, and 32% of those deaths involved prescription opioids.” More recent data indicates substance use has increased due to isolation and the COVID-19 pandemic. Logic would suggest we can expect an increase in opioid overdose numbers as we continue to navigate this pandemic.

Something I would like to emphasize is those numbers mentioned above are people, people that died due to opioid use, whether intentional or accidental. If you knew that you could save a life, wouldn’t you at least try? That is where Naloxone comes in. Naloxone allows us to save a person who might later get treatment.

Naloxone, commonly prescribed as Narcan (nasal spray) or Evsio (injectable), is used to stop overdose of opioids such as heroin, prescription opiates, and fentanyl. It is considered an opioid antagonist, which means it blocks opioids from entering into opioid receptors of someone who has overdosed. This valuable drug saves lives by working to reverse the effects of opiates.

Naloxone should be in your home if anyone in the home is prescribed opiates, abuses opiates, or mixes opiates with a potentiating substance such as benzodiazepines, muscle relaxers, or alcohol.

When do you need to administer Naloxone? According to the Prescription for Change website (printed below), Naloxone should be administered to a person who has overdosed. Some signs of overdose are: no response to noise or light, slow or no breathing, bluish lips and/or fingertips, and pinpoint pupils. A person with those symptoms needs Naloxone to reverse the effects of overdose. When you intervene, you will need to stimulate the person by calling their name or gently shaking them, call 911, administer Naloxone, and perform CPR if you know how. If there is no response in 3-5 minutes, give the person another dose of naloxone.

Where can you get Naloxone? You can ask your medical provider to prescribe Naloxone along with any prescription of opiates. You can go to the Prescription for Change website, https://okimready.org/overdose/ to find local agencies that provide Naloxone, or, locally, you can contact the Regional Prevention Coordinator at Red Rock Behavioral Health Services and ask for Naloxone and Naloxone training at (580) 323-6021.

Remember, Naloxone is not treatment for opioid abuse; rather, it is a lifesaving intervention to stop overdose and prevent opioid related deaths. As my Naloxone trainer said, “We cannot help someone if they are dead.” Naloxone gives us that opportunity to get someone help rather than die.

Sarah knows a thing or two about addiction and recovery. Daughter, sister, and friend to wonderful people who have battled substance use disorder, codependency, and mental health stigma. Survivor. Advocate.