According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human services the total number of drug overdose related deaths increased by 18 percent in 2016. Most of the drug overdoses were from opioids ("Michigan overdose deaths grew in 2016," 2017). Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illicit drug heroin, licit prescription pain relievers such as oxycodone, norco, and morphine, as well as other synthetic forms such as fentanyl. When taken how they are prescribed and for a short period of time opioid pain relievers are typically safe to use. However because they cause one to feel good on top of relieving pain they are often taken differently than prescribed or in larger quantities than recommended. Misuse can lead to dependence and more seriously an overdose and/or death. …show more content…
First responders such as police officers and fire fighters are now carrying Narcan and administering it to potential overdose victims. Narcan being administered by a first responder is a controversial topic that I find myself having discussion with my peers about often. Some feel that first responders having Narcan is just enabling the abuser to continue to use while others feel it is saving a life and potentially pushing the abuser to get help. The issue with first responders not having Narcan to administer is the victim may die from the overdose before having the opportunity to get help. The administration of Narcan by first responders not only saves lives but it also gives an opportunity for
Mike Alstott knows first-hand how opioids, when used correctly, can play an important role in managing pain and helping people to function, but he is also keenly aware of the growing crisis of opioid misuse and overdose. More American adults are dying from misusing prescription narcotics than ever before. An estimated 35 people die every day in the U.S. from accidental prescription painkiller overdoses resulting from things like not taking a medication as directed or not understanding how multiple
The topic of Narcan is a relatively new concept, since it has only been easily obtainable in the past few years. The major debate on Narcan use is will it become a bigger issue the it fixes. Governor Tom Wolf in April made it public that all state police cars will have doses of the life-saving drug; Narcan (Murrysville). Supports, of this drug look at the fact that is has been credited with saving around one thousand people across the state (Murrysville). Furthermore, that there have been more than two thousand overdoses deaths, in Allegheny County since 2008; and that Narcan would have given those people a better chance to live. Equally important, is the negative-side of Narcan. Tom Wolf in February, made it public knowledge that free doses of Narcan, will be given to schools that want it. Those who believe Narcan will become detrimental to the fight against this epidemic have good reason to. Such as, comments from Dr. Neil Capretto who is the medical director at Gateway Rehabilitation Center; has talked before about his teenaged patients, that would use heroin or other opioids in the middle of school (Pennsylvania). If Narcan, is so accessible like in schools, police cars, and can be bought for personal use, this could allow people to push the limits on using these drugs. Also, by allowing it to used whenever is going to be like adding gasoline to a flame, it will speed the
This past semester involved the completion of a vast variety of tasks. I started the semester by becoming more familiar with the drug narcan. Narcan is an opioid antagonist drug that reverses the effects of overdose from certain opioids. Narcan can be injected intravenously, intramuscularly, or sprayed up the nose of an inovidual who is showing signs of an overdose from an opioid. Narcan has been in the drug industry since the mid 90s, although more recently it has become more prevalent as a result of an increase in opioid use. Narcan has been making its way into the media. With the attention now on the possible life saving drug narcan, I was interested in the attitude of the public, and specifically among medical professional, pharmacists,
Narcan may enable addicts, but with it commercially available, the heroin epidemic will be likely to decline. This wonder drug isn’t just for heroin and opioid abuse, though, anyone who takes an opioid drug such as morphine or codeine is at risk of an overdose(The Opioid Crisis). Accidental overdose is just as dangerous as heroin when it comes to these prescription drugs, so having Narcan available could save their life(Padilla). With 47,000 opioid deaths, 61% of those deaths could of have been saved with Narcan in the household (Kounang). In Conclusion, Narcan has the potential to save thousands of lives yearly, but with the cost and the false sense of security, is it worth
My second topic of choice is just as important right now as understanding addiction. Is Narcan a lifesaver or an enabler? Narcan has been around for many years and has been used in saving lives in hospital following negative reactions to anesthesia. Currently it is used on an everyday basis but our police officers, rescue squad workers,
Analysis: Opioids are a class of drug that are medically used as very effective painkillers, like fentanyl and morphine, however, they are highly addictive and produce a feeling of euphoria (“Opioids”). This combination leads do a lot of abuse and dependency, where people take more than prescribed in order to feel better. People start off taking the opioid painkillers in order to not feel pain as prescribed by their doctors. Then, they end up getting addicted to them. There are also illicit opioids, such as heroin, that are also highly addictive and also lead to dependency and death (“Opioids”). These illicit versions are taken for recreational reasons, and are also often mixed with other drugs. The combination of taking an unregulated drug in conjunction with other drugs leads to a lot of overdoses.
Many people may not realize this but multiple states, including Michigan, are facing an epidemic. It is not a disease, however, it is a heroin epidemic. In a country where addictive opioid pain-killer prescriptions are handed out like candy, it not surprising heroin, also known as smack or thunder, has become a serious problem. The current heroin epidemic Michigan is facing, as are dozens of other states, has spiraled out of control in recent years. In Michigan, some of the areas hit hardest by this drug are in the southern portion of the state, like Wayne, Oakland, and Monroe Counties. The connection between painkillers and heroin may not be clear, but this is because both are classified as opioid drugs, and therefore cause many of the same positive and negative side effects. As a country, we are currently the largest consumer of opioids in the world; almost the entire world supply of hydrocodone (the opioid in Vicodin) and 81% of the world’s oxycodone (in Percocet and OxyContin) is used by the United States (Volkow). Along with consuming most of the world’s most common opioids, we have gone from 76 million of these prescriptions in 1991 to 207 million in 2013 – constantly increasing except for a small decrease starting in 2012 (Volkow). This widespread use has caused numerous consequences from increasing emergency room visits – for both painkillers and heroin – to sky-rocking overdose cases all over the country (Volkow). Michigan, unfortunately, currently has one of the
In the United States, there has been upward swing of opioid abuse over the past decade. Overdose deaths involving opioids – both prescription pain relievers and heroin – almost quadrupled between 1999 and 2014. Well-intentioned efforts to curb prescription opioid abuse have yielded new policies with unfortunate, unforeseen consequences for the 15% of the US population that suffer from chronic pain – nearly 45 million people.
Narcan is an opioid antagonist that reverses the effects of prescription pain medications and heroin. When victims are suffering from an overdose police officers simply spray Narcan up their nose. Within 2-6 minutes the victim should start to breathe again. For some families, giving their son or daughter another chance at life means everything to them while other families feel it is pointless. Many people feel that if all law enforcement is equipped to carry Narcan then drug users will feel they are invincible. Drug addicts don’t use drugs to get to the point of overdose only to be
The over use of opioid has been one of the major public health problem in the United States (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2018). Opioids include prescription medications that are used to treat pain symptoms which includes codeine, morphine, methadone, hydrocodone, and etc., as well as illegal drugs such as heroin and illicit potent on opioids such as fentanyl analogs (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2018). The opioid overdose could happen due to many factors such as when a patient deliberately misuses a prescription, or misuse heroin (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2018). Opioid overdose could happen due to the prescriber miscalculated the opioid dose or when
The United States currently faces an unprecedented epidemic of opioid addiction. This includes painkillers, heroin, and other drugs made from the same base chemical. In the couple of years, approximately one out of twenty Americans reported misuse or abuse of prescriptions painkillers. Heroin abuse and overdoses are on the rise and are the leading cause of injury deaths, surpassing car accidents and gun shots. The current problem differs from the opioid addiction outbreaks of the past in that it is also predominant in the middle and affluent classes. Ultimately, anyone can be fighting a battle with addiction and it is important for family members and loved ones to know the signs. The cause for this epidemic is that the current spike of opioid abuse can be traced to two decades of increased prescription rates for painkillers by well-meaning physicians.
Opioid drugs are some of the most widespread pain medications that we have in this country; indeed, the fact is that opioid analgesic prescriptions have increased by over 300% from 1999 to 2010 (Mitch 989). Consequently, the number of deaths from overdose increased from 4000 to 16,600 a year in the same time frame (Mitch 989). This fact becomes even more frightening when you think about today; the annual number of fatal drug overdoses in the Unites States now surpasses that of motor vehicle deaths (Alexander 1865). Even worse, overdose deaths caused by opioids specifically exceed those attributed to both cocaine and heroin combined (Alexander 1865).
In America, the use of opioids is at an all time high, it has became such an issue nationwide, that it has became an epidemic. Because of the opioid epidemic, America is tearing apart, children all across the country are dying everyday, these children are dying from overdoses due to poisoning. The opioid problem is not just because of a person's decision to pick up a needle or a pill bottle, but it is because in the 1990’s doctors gave up on trying to treat patients for their overwhelming pain and discomfort, causing opioids to become over prescribed. Due to the carelessness of America, opioids are being distributed more and more everyday, causing the skyrocketing number of deaths.
Today, Naloxone is now being prescribed and dispensed to people at risk of opioid overdose. The number of overdose deaths has quadrupled since 1999. Statistics show that increased availability, relatively low price (compared to prescription opioids), and high purity of heroin in the United States is one of the reasons why death rates are so high. From 2000 to 2015, more than half a million people died from drug overdoses. Every day, approximately 91 Americans die from an opioid overdose. It is a proven fact that most people who are addicted suffer the most overdoses. Anyone taking drugs can suffer an opiate overdose, especially when they take more than prescribed or if they combine opiates with other CNS (Central Nervous System) depressants with alcohol. It's rare for someone to die immediately from an overdose, it's usually a very slow process that takes anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. After you administer the Naloxone, it lasts between 30-90 minutes before the overdose begins to recur. Also, Naloxone can also cause an uncomfortable withdrawal feeling; This is because it blocks the action of opioids in the
Alcohol and illicit drug consumption are all too prevalent today in high schools, colleges, and all across the globe. Students seeking to fit in or forget about the repetitiveness of school and homework have a tendency to experiment. Drug addiction is known by the scientific community to be a psychological condition based on excessive, obsessive, and compulsive actions. Once that regular user crosses the line into addiction their only concern is their self and their life revolves around the getting, using, and finding ways and means to get and use more. Most people start using drugs and alcohol occasionally, which is a voluntary decision,