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

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http://caledonianrecord.com/main.asp?SectionID=180&SubSectionID=778&ArticleID=102655

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[TD]11/16/2013 8:34:00 AM

Overdose Antidote Expected To Save Lives

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"Wayne Bassett, a Vietnam War veteran, unintentionally injected himself with a lethal dose of heroin in 2001 at his Danville home and died alone, excepting the family dogs.

His wife Nancy Bassett, a heroin addict herself, was in Connecticut serving nine months in rehab at the Federal Correctional Facility in Danbury. Her crime: transporting narcotics across state lines, a federal offense."

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"She recounted the experience this week from her tiny office at the recovery center upon news that Narcan, an overdose antidote long administered by doctors and EMTs, is going mainstream. A new state of Vermont pilot program aims to distribute Narcan to addicts, their friends and family."

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

So what is this really about? The real debate, the one few here are going to voice aloud but that some are thinking, is "are these lives worth saving?" After all, they are "just junkies," right? "Why should we dedicate more resources to save them?" We have a very big faction of people in this country who are voicing daily the opinion that they do not believe that people they consider less than themselves (less white, less educated, less English speaking, less income earning etc) deserve as much health care as they have for themselves, so I imagine most of those very same people object to Narcan for addicts. I am sure they are content to let them die, or better yet, to end up in one of the for-profit prisions in which they have, no doubt, heavily invested.

Well, I hope that comment wasn't aimed at me, because I think nothing of the kind......in fact, those thoughts never even occurred to me as I was writing my post. I didn't go into it that far intellectually. Perhaps I should have. But both proponents AND opponents of this idea have made good points, and the debate should go on IMHO.

What happened to self-accountability?

Addicts are not people who wake up one day and say "gee I think I want to be an addict". Part of the disease process of addiction is that there is no more self accountabiity. It is not an addiction easily stopped, in the case of heroin addiction, there's already in place methadone, suboxone clinics--

There's many people in many arenas that do bad things to themselves, end up addicted, and can't seed a way out.

With that being said, it is very difficult to put on someone else a situation that becomes violent quickly when one is sobering an addict. I think the intention may be a good one, but the outcomes not so great.

With that being said, it is very difficult to put on someone else a situation that becomes violent quickly when one is sobering an addict. I think the intention may be a good one, but the outcomes not so great.

What have been the outcomes of similar progrrams?

Fabulous idea. Alternative is anoxic brain injury or death. I think if someone gets the narcan and the education that goes along with it, it's like an epi-pen. Waiting for EMS for narcan is subjecting the person to the exact same risk that waiting for EMS for epi does. Brain cells dying.

Of course, we see people with allergies as "innocent" and drug users as "asking for it."

Some might not call EMS after giving it. Person that OD'd is in no more danger there than they would have been when nobody called EMS after NOT having narcan available. Some might be surprised by the agitation. Nobody hanging out with someone that would have narcan is going to be surprised by agitation from a drug user. Especially if they've gotten the narcan education.

Instead of basing this on moral outrage at enabling drug users, we need to look at it practically. And practically, this is a great plan.

I would be curious if a study of this is done. Who would be the ones giving the narcan, and who would not even if it was available?

Specializes in CICU.

I would not ever say that an addict's life is not worth saving. I DO think that the narcan should be given out with plenty of education. Comparing it to epi may not be fair - if a parent/teacher, etc uses an epi pen on a child, then of course they will call 911 - why wouldn't they. With overdoses, the bystander may fear calling the authorities...which could lead to no follow up, narcan wears off, etc etc.

Like others have said, there really isn't much of a downside, and if there is an argument about meds being available to the public - apparently heroin, et al. are available to the public too...

With overdoses, the bystander may fear calling the authorities...which could lead to no follow up, narcan wears off, etc etc.

If they aren't going to call 911 after narcan, they weren't going to call without the narcan available either. No follow up after narcan doesn't leave the person any more dead than no narcan at all.

Specializes in School nursing.

Massachusetts is doing this as well; in nursing school last summer, I had a wonderful parent of a now recovering (clean 8 years, but always recovering; she runs learn2cope.org) heroin addict talk about this program, which is designed for the friends and family members of addicts. I am 100% for it.

However, there is training involved before Narcan is handed out - http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/substance-abuse/naloxone-info.pdf. As many other others pointed out, we can train to safely use an Epi-pen and call 9-1-1, why not this?

Specializes in kids.
As the mother of a heroin addict......I'm all for it.

This must be an incredibly difficult discussion for you (((Hugs)))

Specializes in Home Care.
This must be an incredibly difficult discussion for you (((Hugs)))

Most people don't personally know someone with a opioid or heroin addiction. Nor do they understand the insidious nature of addiction. Nor do they understand that methadone clinics, suboxone, drug treatment programs etc are not a magic bullet and have high failure rates.

My son's addiction started with opioid pain meds then when the formulation was changed here in Canada he started using heroin.

If you met him at the grocery store you'd never guess he was a heroin addict. He's married with a young child and works full-time. He just looks like your average 30 year old guy. He doesn't use every day.

He's been battling this addiction for 10 years, its very sad. I have two sons in one, the son I love and the addict I despise.

I don't try to help him, I learned long ago that there's nothing I can do to help him. I'm there for him when he needs me, when he's not high.

Specializes in Short Term/Skilled.
I am sure.

And, yes, the narcan should some with a warning about the vomit and rage that may accompany its administration.

If you've been there than you have the right to say you're sure. I retract my statement. I've been there as well. No fun.

Specializes in FNP, ONP.
Well, I hope that comment wasn't aimed at me, because I think nothing of the kind......in fact, those thoughts never even occurred to me as I was writing my post. I didn't go into it that far intellectually. Perhaps I should have. But both proponents AND opponents of this idea have made good points, and the debate should go on IMHO.

No, I wasn't aiming it at you at all. I do disagree that there is any room for debate. I think it's a no brainer, frankly. I am not accusing you of hoping all addicts would just go away and decrease the surplus population. I don't understand your rationale at all, I can not wrap my head around the reason why anyone would hesitate a moment to make Narcan readily available in every 7-11 in America. It should be right next to the condoms as far as I'm concerned. It saves brain function. It saves lives. The end.

That said, we both know Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh and their ilk just wish minority drug addicts would go ahead and DIE already, and are probably wondering why it is taking so bloody long. (Caucasian cocaine users are probably OK though.)

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