"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."
There is a harm-reduction program like this in my area in MA. The naloxone nasal spray is given to all first responders, of course, but also any family member or anyone else who could be present for an OD can take a brief training course to know how to use it appropriately. The testimonials from mothers and fathers who have kept their young adults alive after finding them in near-death opioid comas are heartwarming.
And yes, I've seen naloxone used clinically, more than once, but once is enough to give you a deep appreciation for what happens when you completely reverse all opioids on board.
I had a family member OD and die from heroin use, so I may have a different view. I don't know if that night she had received narcan if she would still be alive now. But I am all for anything that could potentially prevent the suffering her death caused my family to go through.
nurseprnRN, BSN, RN
1 Article; 5,116 Posts
There is a harm-reduction program like this in my area in MA. The naloxone nasal spray is given to all first responders, of course, but also any family member or anyone else who could be present for an OD can take a brief training course to know how to use it appropriately. The testimonials from mothers and fathers who have kept their young adults alive after finding them in near-death opioid comas are heartwarming.
And yes, I've seen naloxone used clinically, more than once, but once is enough to give you a deep appreciation for what happens when you completely reverse all opioids on board.