The Overdose Reversal Drug Narcan and Counselors

The Opioid epidemic is ravaging the United States and there seems to be no end in sight. Where opioid addiction and overdose was once an exclusively urban problem, it has now spread to all corners of the nation. The health crisis is fueled by opioid pharmaceuticals such as Oxycodone and other seemingly legitimate prescription medications.

The problem devastates families and their communities, and it also exacts an economic toll. Under President Obama, the Council of Economic Advisors determined that the financial cost of opioid fatalities was between $221.6 and 549.8 billion dollars in 2015. Unfortunately, regulating the industry is not as easy as discovering the cost in dollars or lives. However, until significant regulatory measures are enacted, there are overdose reversal drugs available to help reduce overdose fatalities.

What is it?

Naloxone, also known as the brand names Narcan and Evzio, is a medication that is known as an opioid antagonist. That term means what it might seem to imply: Naloxone is the enemy of opioids and thus seeks to ensure that they don’t work. The drug works by blocking the opioid receptors in the user’s brain. Opioid receptors are special nerve cells that are shaped in such a way that opioid molecules fit them much as a key fits its lock.

Opioid antagonists have an almost exact molecular structure to that of their nemeses. When introduced to the body, they remove opioid molecules from receptors and take residence on the opioid receptor sites themselves, blocking drugs such as Oxycodone and heroin from actively affecting the brain. Thus, when Naloxone is active in the body, it removes the opioids causing the negative reaction and neither prescription nor illicit opioids will be effective for a period of time. In this way, it can put an immediate halt to any opioid effects, including (and especially) overdose.

Where do you get it?

Naloxone is a prescription drug that can be obtained without a doctor’s approval in most states. It is most commonly found with Emergency Medical Technicians, law enforcement officers, and Emergency Room professionals. They keep the drug in stock for when they encounter a victim of opioid overdose. Since the drug is easily administered via nasal spray and other methods, even untrained people can have the opportunity to provide help when the need arises. Naloxone also has very few side effects that stem specifically from its use and not the use of opioids. For this reason, it is recommended that those who use prescription or illicit opioids also have Naloxone available.

Injection & Auto-injection vs. Nasal Spray

There are three ways to deliver Naloxone to the body: injection, auto-injection, and as a nasal spray. To administer Naloxone via injection, the administering agent needs to have professional training. Thus, this delivery method is primarily used by doctors and nurses in Emergency Rooms and EMTs on crisis calls. Please keep in mind that Naloxone is commonly known by its brand name, Narcan.

Auto-injection is a method that enables laypeople to easily administer the drug to themselves or to someone in the throes of overdose. This delivery system involves a single-use device that can be easily uncapped and pressed to the overdose victim’s outer thigh, whereupon a small needle will inject the life-saving drug. These devices also usually have an audio instruction recording that plays when you remove it from its case, allowing those unused to the application of an auto-injector the best possible chance of administering the medication correctly.

Intra-nasal Naloxone is perhaps the easiest method of all. When a person is overdosing, all their friend or loved one needs to do is squirt Naloxone into their nose, much like any nasal spray. This method, along with auto-injection, has become quite popular among harm reduction advocates. These nasal sprays also only have a single dose in each spray bottle. If the administering party believes that another dose is needed, they must have another nasal spray applicator on hand.

While intra-nasal and auto-injection Naloxone are easily administered by medical professionals and laypeople alike, the difficulty is that these methods may not always deliver a dose adequate for halting an overdose in its tracks. However, each intra-nasal and auto-injection kits come with two doses. This helps to ensure that an overdose is stopped at least long enough to ensure that the victim receives medical attention, including a professionally administered injection. Extra doses should not be given right away or at the same application site. Most applicators suggest waiting 3-5 minutes for signs of revival and, if there is none, administering the next does in an alternate injection site, the opposite thigh for auto-injectors, or the alternate nostril for the nasal spray.

How to Use it

Injection

Injected Narcan or Naloxone is perhaps the most effective. The doses can be specially tailored to suit the specific needs of an individual based on their body size and the amount of opioids they may have ingested. However, this method requires a medical professional for the procedure. The overdose victim must be held steady while the syringe is filled, the skin cleared with a swab, and then the dose injected. Additionally, only medical professionals have access to the bottles of naloxone used for this injection.

Auto-injection

Auto-injection is a relatively safe and easy way for most anyone to deliver Naloxone to an overdose victim. The kit only requires that one remove a cap and press the auto-injection device to the outer thigh of their overdosing friend or loved one (making sure there is nothing in their pockets that may interfere with the dose, such as keys or a phone). Sometimes a single dose from an auto-injection kit is not adequate to fully stop an overdose, or the first dose may wear off before an ambulance arrives. Thus, these kits commonly come with two doses.

Nasal Spray

Intra-nasal Naloxone is a favorite among harm reduction advocates who have been known to advocate for free and open distribution of this method. That is because this overdose cessation method is perhaps the easiest to administer. When an overdose victim is in the middle of their overdose, a friend or loved one only needs to spray the drug into their nose to see instant revival. However, the doses are not always enough. For that reason, each intra-nasal Naloxone kit comes with two doses. Thus, a person might be able to administer a second dose to a friend in need of help from two people if a non-opioid has been spiked with Fentanyl, for instance, which is becoming much more common.

Naloxone can reverse the effects of:

Naloxone primarily works as an antagonist for any and all opioid drugs. Thus, it is effective against drugs such as:

Oxycodone
Lortab
Fentanyl
Oxycontin
Heroin
Vicodin
Morphine

What it Can’t Do

Naloxone, known by brand-name Narcan, seems like a wonder drug. In fact, the fact that it works with immediacy against opioid overdose is wonderful. However, it does not work against other overdoses or with any other class of drugs whatsoever. The receptors that Naloxone clears and protects are only those that accept opioid molecules. Thus, if a person is overdosing as a result of multiple drugs, including an opioid such as prescription Oxycontin, a dose of Naloxone will only inhibit the opioids in a patient’s system. If their overdose is mainly created by the non-opioid in their system, naloxone will be ineffective at reviving them. This is part of why it is imperative that you always, always call for emergency medical personnel if you believe someone may have overdosed. Do not rely on Naloxone to be the only miracle they need.

Naloxone does NOT work with the following drugs:

Alcohol
Cocaine
Valium
Xanax
Klonopin
Any and all benzodiazepines
Amphetamines
Adderall
Ritalin
Methamphetamine

Overdoses are frightening- also simply being a witness to an overdose can trigger signs of PTSD and likewise injury. When overdoses aren't handled in time, they can as well as normally do result in fatality. Nonetheless, there is an approach to handle back with an opioid overdose reversal medication called naloxone (brand Narcan.) As the opioid overdose costs enhance across the country, extra as well as a lot more individuals are uncovering just exactly how to utilize naloxone as well as additionally hauling it with them in circumstances they need to leap right into action to save the life of a buddy or perhaps a complete stranger.

What activates the overdose (and also deaths related to it) implies the body responds to a flood of opiates right into the mind. Narcotics impact the exact same location of the brain that manages breathing. When somebody takes an extreme of an opiate, this part of the brain starts to decrease down, as well as additionally taking a breath minimizes too.

What this suggests is that it generally forces the opiate fragments off of the receptors, turning around the impacts of an overdose. However, the opioid overdose turn-around is not irreversible. It does deteriorate swiftly, sometimes within 30 mins along with typically within 90 minutes. At this variable, the specific influence can slip back right into an overdose if there are still narcotics in their system (which there generally are.) That's why it is absolutely vital to call emergency situation services likewise if naloxone functions to ensure that the person can get the suitable therapy to make sure that they absolutely redeem from the overdose.

If somebody has really made use of narcotics, it will create withdrawal symptoms, which can be truly unpleasant and also uncomfortable. However, it does not trigger any kind of damage along with has no possible to create overdose or injury. For someone that hasn't taken narcotics, it has no results. That indicates that even if you assume that a person is withstanding an opiate overdose nevertheless you do not know for certain, you can always utilize the opioid overdose reversal medicine just in circumstance- there is no hazard, even if they have not made use of opiates.

That term suggests what it might seem to indicate: Naloxone is the adversary of opioids as well as thus tries to find to make sure that they don't function. The medication features by blocking the opioid receptors in the user's mind. Opioid receptors are distinct afferent neurons that are shaped in such a technique that opioid molecules fit them long as an important fits its lock.

When introduced to the body, they get rid of opioid bits from receptors and also take house on the opioid receptor internet sites themselves, blocking medicines such as Oxycodone and additionally heroin from actively affecting the mind. Therefore, when Naloxone is energetic in the body, it eliminates the opioids creating the negative feedback and neither prescription nor unethical opioids will be dependable for a while.

Naloxone is a prescription medicine that can be obtained without a doctor's approval in most states. It is most often discovered with Emergency situation Medical Professionals, law enforcement cops, as well as likewise Emergency situation Space professionals. They maintain the drug in supply for when they run into a target of opioid overdose. Since the drug is comfortably executed through nasal spray as well as numerous other techniques, even untrained people can have the chance to provide aid when the demand occurs.

As a result of this, it is recommended that those who use prescription or illicit opioids furthermore have Naloxone offered. There are 3 implications to provide Naloxone to the body: shot, auto-injection, and also as a nasal spray. To execute Naloxone through shot, the providing representative needs to have professional training. Hence, this shipment method is largely made use of by medical professionals in addition to nurses in Emergency clinics in addition to Lifesaver on crisis calls.

Auto-injection is a strategy that makes it possible for laypeople to conveniently give the medicine to themselves or to a person in the throes of overdose. This shipment system involves a single-use tool that can be swiftly uncapped and pressed to the overdose sufferer's outer top leg, whereupon a little needle will infuse the life-saving drug.

Intra-nasal Naloxone is possibly one of the most hassle-free techniques of all. When an individual is overdosing, all their friend or enjoyed one calls for to do is spray Naloxone right into their nose, a whole lot like any nasal spray. This method, along with auto-injection, has actually ended up being rather preferred among harm decrease advocates. These nasal sprays additionally just have a singular dosage in each spray container.

The Overdose Reversal Drug Narcan is one of the most effective drugs ever created. It has helped millions of people overcome their addiction to drugs, but it has become a problem in recent years.

Narcan can save your life in many ways. It's been proven by doctors to be effective when administered by trained medical staff on the scene of an overdose. But it is not effective on its own.

It is necessary to have a group of counselors and/or an overdose nurse that work with Narcan. They can assess an individual in order to determine if he or she needs the drug. They can then give the drug to him or her at their discretion.

This group of counselors and nurses that work with Narcan are called overdose response teams. They work to provide emotional support and medical care until they can transport them to the drug treatment facility. This is a team of trained people who know how to respond to an overdose quickly and effectively.

The reason this team is so important is because Narcan is not a drug to take for a long time. Once the drug wears off you will be addicted to the drug. It has been shown in many studies that these drug counselors and nurses help addicts beat their drug addictions.

Many drug treatment centers provide Narcan to all patients that need it. Some centers only provide it to those in their program, while other facilities do not offer Narcan at all. You need to contact the facility where you are staying to find out if they have Narcan available.

Overdose counselors and nurses work together with a team of trained medical staff who work in an overdose recovery unit that provides comprehensive treatment for drug addicts that include the use of Narcan. To help addicts get through their addiction. This program should consist of a detoxification unit that will treat the addict inpatient, a long-term care facility, a relapse prevention unit, outpatient treatment and other areas of treatment.

Overdose counselors and nurses work with a team of highly trained counselors and/nurses that work in the overdose recovery unit. To provide a comprehensive service for drug addicts that include detoxification, counseling, long-term and short-term care, and other services. They work with families, family members, friends, employers and law enforcement in order to provide the best possible care for the addict.

Narcan is a medicine that can be given as an injection under the tongue or as a spray. It is a drug that was developed in the 1970s by the pharmaceutical company called Naloxone. This drug was designed to stop the respiratory depressant properties of narcotics that were being used in the United States at that time. Since then it has been approved by the FDA to treat heroin addicts.

Overdose reversal is when the team that deals with Narcan is used to help addicts that have developed an addiction to the narcotic to stop using the drug. This is why the team works with overdose counselors and nurses. in that they are trained to provide medical care for the drug addict.

Narcan is a safe and effective drug that can help individuals overcome their addiction. When the addict does not have access to Narcan and the overdose occurs, there are several things that can happen. These include an overdose death from the overdose, cardiac arrest, brain damage that can cause coma and even death.

The overdose response team is onsite at many rehab centers that offer Narcan for their patients. There are no signs that the patient will overdose. They do not want to see an overdose because if they do they could not provide the medical care that the patient needs. The staff works in conjunction with the patient and the team in order to ensure that the patient gets the proper treatment that they need.

If you are an addict of any kind, please call 911 right away. The staff will help you get to the hospital or to the closest overdose center if there is one nearby. The staff can also send you home right away with Narcan for you to begin to detox at home if you are addicted.

Why Carry It Anyway

Any illicit drug use is fraught with danger, and that danger has dramatically increased with the introduction of Fentanyl to street drugs. Once considered a last resort painkiller, the drug has been unleashed onto the illicit drug market. In powder form, pure Fentanyl can induce overdose with only a few grains. Thus, when it is used to augment a supply of heroin or even amphetamines, it is extremely dangerous. For an illustration of its potency, the National Institute on Drug Abuse states that Fentanyl has 50 to 100 times the potency of morphine. Its clinical use is generally reserved for chronic pain patients who have developed a high tolerance to other opioid painkillers.

Drug dealers often mix Fentanyl with their other opioids in order to create a more potent product. Users are likely to deepen their opioid dependence if they survive a dose laced with Fentanyl. It is also mixed into amphetamine, cocaine, or other uppers as a way to distinguish a dealer’s product in the market.

Whether a user anticipates finding Fentanyl in their amphetamines or other illicitly obtained drugs, it is wise to carry Naloxone. If they happen to come across a bad batch of cocaine, for instance, the Naloxone may be the only thing between living and death by overdose.

Side Effects

One of the great things about Naloxone is that the only effect it has is to block the activity of opioid drugs on the nervous system. For that reason, most states allow access to Naloxone by non-professionals, opioid users, and those with opioid users in their lives. Various states have enacted Naloxone access laws that expand access far beyond medical professionals.

It should be noted that although Naloxone only acts to antagonize the activity of opioids, there may be unpleasant after effects. That is, since the drug stops opioid activity, the user might immediately go into withdrawal. The user might seek to immediately ingest more opioids that they have on their person, or seek to find more. Opioid addicts have also been known to react very negatively upon regaining consciousness following overdose cessation. For instance, one addict was so upset to have lost the effect of his drug that he punched the doctor who had just then injected him with Naloxone.

Thus, while there is no true danger inherent to the use of Naloxone, it is not without after effects for both the user and their caregivers. As with any medications or powerful substances, it is wise to be fully informed prior to use.