First Responders Learn to use Life Saving Opioid Overdose Medication
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February 22, 2018
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Isaac Estes-Jones
Area first responders and advocacy groups had the opportunity to learn about the opioid overdose rescue medicine naloxone (NARCAN) at a training last week.
Naloxone, usually known under the brand name NARCAN, is medication that can temporarily reverse the symptoms of an opioid overdose, allowing that person to survive and get treatment.
The training was offered on Thursday, February 15, by the Community Partnership of the Ozarks, in partnership with the MO Hope Project and the Stone County Health Department.
Members of the Southern Stone County Fire Protection District, Stone County OACAC, individuals from Stone County Emergency Management and Cox Health all attended the training events. Chris Davis, Vice President of Prevention and Youth Support with the Community Partnership of the Ozarks gave one training specifically geared toward first responders and another later the same day for groups and individuals that deal directly with people at risk of overdosing on opioids.
Opioids are the class of drugs that include prescription pain killers like hydrocodone, oxycodone and morphine, along with drugs like heroin and fentanyl. Overdoses of opioid drugs are a topic of national attention, with famous individuals like Tom Petty and Prince dying of accidental overdoses of the highly addictive medications.
While there are no concrete statistics for the number of deaths in Stone County due to opioid overdose, southwest Missouri is second in the state for overdoses, behind only St. Louis. Springfield hospitals report seeing five to seven overdoses per day.
Of particular concern in Stone County are statistics from the Missouri Student Survey. 11.67% of Stone County 6th through 12th graders self-report misusing prescription drugs. “Four out of five heroin users say they used prescription opioids first,” Davis said. “Youth are using prescription drugs and then hearing about heroin. It’s a quick progression sometimes, so we have to be aware.”
“Early experimentation is the number one risk factor. The earlier someone starts using, the more likely they are to develop a substance disorder. Children are still developing and their body can very easily be rewired to need a substance, much faster than the body of an adult,” Davis said.
One interesting note covered in the training is that people who were recently incarcerated or went through treatment are at a higher risk of overdose than others. “It only takes a very short time for tolerance to go down. If someone gets out of jail after being arrested over the weekend and goes right back to using the same amount as before, they could easily overdose,” Davis said.
Naloxone is a rescue medication that can stop the overdose from happening temporarily. “It kicks the opioid off and binds to those receptors, bringing the person out of their overdose,” Davis said.
This medication was only available at hospitals until a few years ago, when first responders were authorized to carry it. Now, it is available without a prescription and is covered by many insurances. While some are concerned that making this medication available will encourage risky behavior, Davis said, “The research clearly shows that having naloxone available reduces the number of overdose events at a population level and levels of use of opioids do not increase.”
“We want people to be alive so they can get treatment,” Davis said of having the medication available. “At treatment centers, I think it should be a regular thing that all patients receive a dose as a matter of course. That way, the stigma is reduced and if someone does relapse, which is often part of the recovery process, they do not overdose and die before they can get better.”
“You never know what could walk through our door,” said Shyra Bilyeu with Stone County OACAC, who attended the training along with Brandi Andrews. “I hope we never have to use it, but I’m glad we will have it available if anyone needs it.” OACAC received two doses of NARCAN, which is trademark name of naloxone nasal spray .
“It’s amazing how easy it is to use, so if that can save a life, we definitely want it to be available,” she said. The training indicated that there are no known side effects of using naloxone. “It only effects the opioid sites. So, if someone is overdosing on something else, this won’t help them, but it also won’t hurt them,” Davis said.
If your organization would like to be trained to use NARCAN, contact the Missouri Hope Project at www.mohopeproject.com or Community Partnership of the Ozarks at www.cpozarks.org
Area first responders and advocacy groups had the opportunity to learn about the opioid overdose rescue medicine naloxone (NARCAN) at a training last week.
Naloxone, usually known under the brand name NARCAN, is medication that can temporarily reverse the symptoms of an opioid overdose, allowing that person to survive and get treatment.
The training was offered on Thursday, February 15, by the Community Partnership of the Ozarks, in partnership with the MO Hope Project and the Stone County Health Department.
Members of the Southern Stone County Fire Protection District, Stone County OACAC, individuals from Stone County Emergency Management and Cox Health all attended the training events. Chris Davis, Vice President of Prevention and Youth Support with the Community Partnership of the Ozarks gave one training specifically geared toward first responders and another later the same day for groups and individuals that deal directly with people at risk of overdosing on opioids.
Opioids are the class of drugs that include prescription pain killers like hydrocodone, oxycodone and morphine, along with drugs like heroin and fentanyl. Overdoses of opioid drugs are a topic of national attention, with famous individuals like Tom Petty and Prince dying of accidental overdoses of the highly addictive medications.
While there are no concrete statistics for the number of deaths in Stone County due to opioid overdose, southwest Missouri is second in the state for overdoses, behind only St. Louis. Springfield hospitals report seeing five to seven overdoses per day.
Of particular concern in Stone County are statistics from the Missouri Student Survey. 11.67% of Stone County 6th through 12th graders self-report misusing prescription drugs. “Four out of five heroin users say they used prescription opioids first,” Davis said. “Youth are using prescription drugs and then hearing about heroin. It’s a quick progression sometimes, so we have to be aware.”
“Early experimentation is the number one risk factor. The earlier someone starts using, the more likely they are to develop a substance disorder. Children are still developing and their body can very easily be rewired to need a substance, much faster than the body of an adult,” Davis said.
One interesting note covered in the training is that people who were recently incarcerated or went through treatment are at a higher risk of overdose than others. “It only takes a very short time for tolerance to go down. If someone gets out of jail after being arrested over the weekend and goes right back to using the same amount as before, they could easily overdose,” Davis said.
Naloxone is a rescue medication that can stop the overdose from happening temporarily. “It kicks the opioid off and binds to those receptors, bringing the person out of their overdose,” Davis said.
This medication was only available at hospitals until a few years ago, when first responders were authorized to carry it. Now, it is available without a prescription and is covered by many insurances. While some are concerned that making this medication available will encourage risky behavior, Davis said, “The research clearly shows that having naloxone available reduces the number of overdose events at a population level and levels of use of opioids do not increase.”
“We want people to be alive so they can get treatment,” Davis said of having the medication available. “At treatment centers, I think it should be a regular thing that all patients receive a dose as a matter of course. That way, the stigma is reduced and if someone does relapse, which is often part of the recovery process, they do not overdose and die before they can get better.”
“You never know what could walk through our door,” said Shyra Bilyeu with Stone County OACAC, who attended the training along with Brandi Andrews. “I hope we never have to use it, but I’m glad we will have it available if anyone needs it.” OACAC received two doses of NARCAN, which is trademark name of naloxone nasal spray .
“It’s amazing how easy it is to use, so if that can save a life, we definitely want it to be available,” she said. The training indicated that there are no known side effects of using naloxone. “It only effects the opioid sites. So, if someone is overdosing on something else, this won’t help them, but it also won’t hurt them,” Davis said.
If your organization would like to be trained to use NARCAN, contact the Missouri Hope Project at www.mohopeproject.com or Community Partnership of the Ozarks at www.cpozarks.org