Narcan, a trade name for the drug naloxone, is considered the leading "opioid antagonist" available today. It is used almost exclusively to reverse the effects of opioids (heroin, morphine, oxycodone, codeine, percocet, vicodin, fentanyl, dilaudid), particularly in overdose situations.

 

Throughout the US, new laws have come into effect as of late allowing first responders to administer Narcan to individuals suspected of overdosing, along with many legal provisions made to provide immunity to those reporting overdoses and responding to them. This is all in light of the surging heroin epidemic in the United States. Kentucky, which reports the 3rd highest number of yearly drug overdose deaths of any state, reported 230 heroin overdose deaths in 2013 and 233 in 2014. Previous to 2009, the state of Kentucky averaged fewer than one heroin overdose death per year.

 

I'm sure most of us have heard multiple stories by now about heroin-related overdoses and deaths, and most of us would think that a drug to reverse the effects of an overdose. Agree? I'd have a hard time disagreeing with that.

 

Interestingly enough, though, in talking with several emergency medical providers that I know, there seem to be more and more of them who are beginning to question the rate at which Narcan is used, and many of the situations in which it is administered. Is having the "Narcan safety net" available actually impacting the mindset of users and potential users? Does knowing that there's an 'overdose antidote' available in the hands of first responders make it seem a little less intimidating when it comes to whether or not to try heroin?

 

Should we have so many emergency personnel and medical personnel carrying Narcan? Should we administer it every time that we currently do?

Edited September 23, 201511 yr by Colonels_Wear_Blue

Narcan should not be used by 1st respondors for the exact reason in question. Too many junkies realize that if they OD they will have someone more than likely in close enough distance and time to give them the narcan! There are people who are shooting up in ER parking lots then walking into ER's with the doggone needle in their arms still! It is crazy. This is a sore subject for me. I work in health care. I could give you some scenarios and figures that would blow your mind. This is a huge problem, bigger than most people realize. It is scary how many and who are using these drugs, not just herion, but all the other crude thats out there. Its a war, and it should be treated as such instead of giving these people a remedy to just go and do it again and again!

One thing I heard recently from a friend of mine made me question whether or not we could be doing things wrong in some regard. My friend is an EMT in Northern Kentucky and filled me in on some of the goings on at the Newport Pavilion shopping center.

 

I think everyone from around NKY is aware of the fact that the Newport Pavilion is a hotbed for heroin use (and overdoses). I was never exactly sure why it was such a hotbed, apart from the fact that it's somewhat centrally located around Greater Cincinnati and has very nearby expressway access to I-75, I-71, and I-275.

 

However, I was filled in by the EMT that the additional reasons for the Newport Pavilion being so popular for heroin usage are it's proximity to an emergency room (St. Elizabeth Fort Thomas), and the fact that it is a 24/7 shopping center with a regular crowd of people there to find you, John Herion User, if you overdose.

 

He went on to inform me that he had been completely filled in about the desirable nature of the Newport Pavilion by an overdose patient whom had just had Narcan administered to him for the 5th time in 4 years. Apparently the protocol is to drive to the shopping center, back into a parking space directly across the aisle from a nice looking vehicle, leave your car running, and then put it back in drive while you hold your foot on the brake. Then, with your foot still on the brake, you shoot up. That way if you overdose, your foot will slip off the brake, your car will roll forward into the nice vehicle across the way, people will come find you after you crash, and you'll end up in the emergency road a mere 5 minutes away where the Narcan awaits you (if the EMT's haven't already administered it to you).

 

 

If this is a look into the mind of a heroin addict, then is there something we need to do differently about Narcan?

Dollars from the state and federal government are being awarded for Narcan rather than treatment. If anything is going to work, and I'm not sure it will, it's a complete program consisting of various outpatient, residential and long term aftercare treatments.

We don't need drug treatment facilities. We need factories with housing. Kills 2 birds with one stone. You OD, get narcan, you immediatley get shipped to a facility with armed guards and perform a factory duty of some sort. You get 3 hots and a cot and constant oversight while providing a service. First sentence is 1 year. You use again, OD, no narcan for you. You cash in your chips, don't pass go, and bow your knee before your maker. Hope you have your affairs in order. That's how it would be in spindoctonia, where I am dictator.

Apples and oranges, but WAY back in the day I knew a guy on Antabuse that would make sure that when he decided to go off the wagon, he would do so in a hospital parking lot.

Another case in point...

 

Fort Wright Accident Kills 4

 

Driver who caused the accident was high on opiods. He had been in an accident earlier in the month where he had reported being on pain meds, and had reportedly received Narcan treatment at the time of the previous accident.

Another case in point...

 

Fort Wright Accident Kills 4

 

Driver who caused the accident was high on opiods. He had been in an accident earlier in the month where he had reported being on pain meds, and had reportedly received Narcan treatment at the time of the previous accident.

 

Sadly picked the wrong time and place the last time.

We don't need drug treatment facilities. We need factories with housing. Kills 2 birds with one stone. You OD, get narcan, you immediatley get shipped to a facility with armed guards and perform a factory duty of some sort. You get 3 hots and a cot and constant oversight while providing a service. First sentence is 1 year. You use again, OD, no narcan for you. You cash in your chips, don't pass go, and bow your knee before your maker. Hope you have your affairs in order. That's how it would be in spindoctonia, where I am dictator.

 

Unfortunately we are too civilized. I would change the 3 hot to 1 hot, 2 cold but that's just me.

Another case in point...

 

Fort Wright Accident Kills 4

 

Driver who caused the accident was high on opiods. He had been in an accident earlier in the month where he had reported being on pain meds, and had reportedly received Narcan treatment at the time of the previous accident.

 

Pretty sure he probably didn't have a license. So it's not like taking that away works either....

Talked to a ST E Edgewood ER nurse tonight. She says they use Narcan at least once a day.

We need to dump the useless so-called war on drugs and spend that money on real drug issues. We have wasted about $1.5 trillion and have gotten no where.

 

First, these people need help, be it addiction to pain meds or heroin, it's not a very easy addiction to break, as the withdraw symptoms are horrifying.

 

These people are not what some would call low life's and useless. These people are not only your neighbors, but your friends and family, and even your parents or kids. They need help.

 

We shouldn't sit back and allow someone to die, narcan is very valuable. But we also need real treatment. Having facilities where they are basically locked up with excellent medical staff to help them through the withdraws.

 

Also, even if you sell the smallest amount of heroin, you should get a very long mandatory prison sentence, no exceptions! There is a reason that dealers come from Cincy to the river cities in NKY. Once we get tough on all dealers, this will continue.

 

Those addicted are good people who made the mistake of trying heroin, others got addicted through legal use of pain meds. Wasn't that UL cheerleader on heroin? Beautiful young woman, one you may not have expected. The man who caused the Fort Wright accident was someone who used to live in what you would consider an upscale type area in Edgewood. We still don't know if it was heroin or pain meds.

I wonder how all of the current money being misallocated to the War on Pot could be better spent fighting something that's actually harmful?

Talked to a ST E Edgewood ER nurse tonight. She says they use Narcan at least once a day.

 

My sister works at the Covington ER, she says it's 4-5 a night.

My sister works at the Covington ER, she says it's 4-5 a night.

 

Gotta be twice that many pot ODs a night, right? It's Schedule 1, after all.