Narcan and CPR education

[Mamackayrn]

Hello all! I'm not sure if this is the right topic to post under, but I'm sure activists will have some more insight. I'm a travel ASN RN that does CCU and critical care.

Very short story, my best friend was in the grocery store, a man literally dropped dead in front of her and it took roughly 10 minutes for even anyone to know to check a pulse. (The person who called 911 was not at the mans side so I'm guessing that's why there were no instructions on how to perform CPR. I was so angry that NOONE knew what to do. I told my friend, the man was dead, you couldn't have hurt him, just try!

Also, I live in PA and licensed in PA, and narcan is being distributed very openly here now because of the drug epidemic. I know most nurses have very poor feelings towards those who need narcan. In PA, anyone can carry it, like an epi pen.

So here is my question, regardless how you feel about drug addicts....is there anything I, as an RN can do for FREE community education. Teach CPR, education on narcan and administration and what to do after its used (I would go to high risk areas to teach this like strip clubs and maybe clinics).

These precious minutes waisted make such a difference in the outcome of these people. I am very fortunate and don't want to receive any kind of compensation for this. I just want a better educated community and people who arnt too afraid to try to save a life. I was going to start with my local EMS site where they certify you for CPR and start there. I don't want to put my license at risk doing something good, but I have to find a way to give back to my community. We are loosing so many of our young people to drugs here. Please keep any and all negative comments about addicts to yourself. Thank you for reading and please help me help others. ❤️ Monique RN

[dishes, BSN, RN]

@nursegirl, what do your public health harm reduction programs include? The harm reduction programs in my area cover the spectrum and include programs for preventing addiction, assessing at risk individuals and offering substance abuse treatment programs, as well as safer injection supplies.

[elkpark]

That's because they don't understand addiction in its entirety. Even people who run treatment programs don't understand addiction. They want to put a bandaid on it. Here's 10 weeks of counseling. Then out you go!! That's not how you treat addiction.

I've been working in psych and substance abuse for decades now, and I've never seen a legitimate program that consisted of "10 weeks of counseling. Then out you go!" I've never met anyone working in substance abuse or psychiatry who didn't understand how complicated addiction issues are and how a wide range of psychosocial factors played into the individual ending up in that situation. Every program I've been aware of over the years has provided ongoing follow-up care after the acute, intensive portion of the program, and encouraged people to continue in follow-up care and AA/NA participation. In my experience, it's generally been the clients themselves who don't want to do that and don't want to look at any other issues in their lives, don't want any kind of mental health treatment, don't want to do any therapy, want some kind of quick fix (a "temporary bandaid", or, the new craze, a pill that will fix their addiction problems) and to return to their previous lives without making any significant changes. Some people are successful in dealing with their issues and addiction and are able to get their lives back on a positive track; some people do do everything they possibly can but still struggle with their addictions; some people have all the same resources available to them but don't want to make any significant effort to help themselves.