What do you think about this? Giving narcan to addicts, their friends and family.

OCNRN63, RN · Nov 16, 2013

No, no, no. Get them into rehab. Giving them Narcan opens up a ginormic can of worms.

Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN · Nov 16, 2013

This is a great example of the harm reduction model in action. I think it could be a good thing.

http://www.ihra.net/files/2010/05/31/HIVTop50Documents11.pdf

Nursing_Mamacita · Nov 16, 2013

Oh wow. That's like handing them an excuse to continue using because "it's okay, we have narcan".

Sooo what happens when someone ODs, someone gives narcan and its not enough and they re-sedate?

This is stupid.

babydolltoo, BSN, RN · Nov 16, 2013

What is this world coming to? Let's just put all the drugs out there for everyone.

Nursing_Mamacita · Nov 16, 2013

What is this world coming to? Let's just put all the drugs out there for everyone.

Just make it easy. Build pharmacies buffet style.

Do-over, ASN, RN · Nov 16, 2013

I am not against it, that's for sure. I don't really see the users using it on themselves, would they really recognize an overdose and be willing to kill the high?

On one hand, I'd want it available to use on my loved one. On the other hand, I would not have contact with heroin users... So, my having narcan would do no one any good.

ComeTogether, LPN · Nov 16, 2013

I am not against it, that's for sure. I don't really see the users using it on themselves, would they really recognize an overdose and be willing to kill the high?
On one hand, I'd want it available to use on my loved one. On the other hand, I would not have contact with heroin users... So, my having narcan would do no one any good.

Don't be so sure, unless you've actually been there. Addiction is a horrible disease and when your loved one actually is addicted to heroin and needs help its not as easy as "not having contact". Just saying.

I don't know about just handing narcan out to addicts, it sort of is like saying "here is a quick fix if you over-do it" but at the same time it would save lives, so I digress. Maybe something like a no-questions asked policy where they can call 911 and ask for it? I don't know, there would be problems with that, too.

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Nov 16, 2013

New Mexico has done this for a while, though I don't know the outcome so far. This really won't help people who overdose on heroin or opioids (which are a big problem in Vermont) while alone.

MunoRN, RN · Nov 16, 2013

Chicago has done a pilot project which reduced Heroin/Opiate OD deaths by 20% in it's first year, other programs have seen reductions of up to 50%, I'm not sure how that's a bad thing.

MunoRN, RN · Nov 16, 2013

New Mexico has done this for a while, though I don't know the outcome so far. This really won't help people who overdose on heroin or opioids (which are a big problem in Vermont) while alone.

More than half of all opiate overdoses are "witnessed", so it can benefit up to more than half of it's "target audience". In contrast, Statins may only benefit as little as 1-2% of people who take them (depending on what study you refer to).

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Nov 16, 2013

Most addicts when receiving narcan are less than thrilled. And could require some immediate intervention not readily available at home. I wouldn't want to be the family member on the receiving end of that interaction. I am not sure how a family member or friend is going to protect themselves when a person who is addicted comes to, and is irate.

Addiction is a disease process, and not a character defect. Addicts are really unlikely to administer narcan to themselves. And if od'ing, not sure if they would have the capacity to do so anyways.

I can see a concerned family/friend doing this perhaps once, but depending on the reaction, I am not sure that they would be willing to do it again.