Get help immediately and administer drug-reversing solutions.
Every day in the US over 100 people die from a drug overdose. The surprising fact is, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), the majority of these tragic circumstances are caused by people misusing prescription drugs. Statistics show opioid painkillers kill more than double the number of people than heroin and cocaine do, together.
If you know someone who abuses drugs, knowing what to do if they overdose can be integral to saving their life.
Call for help
If you find someone who has overdosed, call 911 immediately. Emergency crews often have drugs-reversing products on them that can save a life. Experts say you should place the person on their side, lying down, to help ensure they don’t choke.
Share information
Tell emergency services exactly where you’re located. Share your address and the type of drug the person used, if you know what it is.
Give naloxone, if you have it
Next, if you have access to naloxone, also known as Narcan, administer this as soon as you can. Generally, this is within 2 to 3 minutes. To give naloxone, tilt the person’s head back and spray naloxone into their nostril. Do this firmly and quickly. Make sure the person stays on their side with an open airway for breathing.
Related: People who drink alone are more likely to become alcoholics later on: study
All about naloxone
Research shows that most people who die from a drug overdose didn’t seek substance abuse treatment before dying. In addition, huge disparities exist in society and minority groups are hit harder by drugs. This means a lot still needs to be done to help reach these individuals before they pass away.
Harm reduction in terms of drug abuse can come in a variety of services and one of them is having access to naloxone, as touched on above. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, which means it works by attaching itself to the receptors in opioids, blocking and reversing the effects of the drugs. This “medicine” only works on reversing the effects of opioids on the human system, and it won’t take away someone’s cravings for opioids or help them with long-term treatment. In the short term, however, it can save someone’s life and restore normal breathing quickly.
Experts advise that if you or someone close to you uses opioids and has a substance abuse problem, or simply takes a high-dose opioid prescription, that you ask your doctor for a naloxone prescription or get it from local organizations offering it. Having naloxone in your home can save a life.
The advantages of fentanyl test strips
Fentanyl test strips bring us to a controversial subject. Fentanyl is a powerful opioid pain reliever that’s prescribed to numb pain following major surgery and to help ease the pain of cancer patients in the advanced stages of their disease. As a synthetic opioid, fentanyl is created in a lab, and is designed to act on the brain in the same way as natural opioids. Increasingly, fentanyl is being produced illegally in underground facilities that aren’t monitored. Because it’s used to blunt extreme pain, even fentanyl that’s made legally has been designed to be much stronger than normal prescription morphine-based painkillers and this can make it deadlier.
In light of this danger, places like California have implemented harm reduction programs that issue fentanyl test strips. Drug users can bring their street drugs to these testing locations and test the drugs to see if they contain high-strength fentanyl or not. The idea is, the test strips can help addicts who aren’t ready to quit to avoid taking extra-strength drugs that may kill them via overdose.
If you or someone you know takes fentanyl, testing it to check its potency could help save lives. It could be beneficial to inquire in your area to see if these test strips are offered.
Getting a referral to a substance use disorder treatment program
Of course, the best course of action for drug abusers is to quit taking drugs altogether. For many people, this is easier said than done but it’s possible and the best course of action.
A good place to start searching for treatment options is the US Department of Health and Human Services (SAMHSA) webpage. You can use their substance use treatment locator to find a program nearby. Simply enter your city or zip code and find treatment options near you.
It’s a fact that people are successfully treated every day and recover, going on to live fulfilling lives. Taking action now can allow you or someone you know to see a better tomorrow.
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