Naloxone: A Case Study

Executive Statement Due to a recent rise in opioid overdoses in the Waterloo Region, it is being recommended that all first responders (paramedics, police officers and firefighters) be made to carry a naloxone kit while on duty (1). The Problem In 2017, up to November 11th, 580 emergency calls were placed regarding opioid-related overdoses in the Waterloo Region (1). Thus, the running total of calls in 2017 as of November 11th is already one-hundred and fifteen percent of the total calls for the

controversy about whether or not the use of naloxone to reverse opiate overdoses is ethical. Overdose-related deaths are concentrated among those most affected by opiate dependence; the poor, racial and ethnic minorities, and individuals cycling in and out of the criminal justice system (Bazazi). Naloxone, more commonly known as Narcan™, is an opioid antagonist that counteracts the effects of opiate overdoses and in most cases saves the user. The use of naloxone on heroin overdoses is extremely beneficial

Administration There are three formulations of naloxone available outside of the clinical or hospital setting: intramuscular (IM) injection, needleless intranasal (IN) spray, and an auto-injector. Both IM and IN formulations are generally sold in kits that include two doses and two delivery devices. Each IM injection kit should include two naloxone 0.4 mg/ml vials and two IM syringes. Each IN kit should include two naloxone 2 mg/2 ml prefilled syringes (needleless) and two atomizers. Either formulation

and its effectiveness, specifically naloxone. This paper details trends in abuse and mortality, interventions taken to reduce rates of overdose related deaths, Naloxone as an intervention, and it’s availability. The review of literature in this paper leads to the following research question: Does Narcan availability to family members of opioid abusers decrease opioid-related deaths? This question is answered using current research on opiate overdose and naloxone use.

the reward value of nutrients are processed in the same brain region. However, a study conducted by Wassum et al. (2009) provides evidence that this is not the case. They found that the nucleus accumbens and the ventral pallidum are responsible for processing food palatability while the basolateral amygdala is involved in assigning incentive value of food rewards. Furthermore, these processes are interrupted when naloxone is administered into their associated regions. This research is significant because

reported case of overdose fatality at the site. The success of Insite as a harm reduction approach has encouraged jurisdictions across Canada to adopt or contemplate similar systems. In 2017, the federal government passed Bill C-37 with the aim of streamlining the application process for communities who wish to operate supervised consumption sites. In Alberta, there are five proposed supervised injection sites, four in Edmonton and another in Calgary. Out-patient Naloxone Treatment Naloxone is an

1. What does Basbaum mean when he says, “pain is not a stimulus”? Basbaum describes pain as an experience associated with perception. Similarly, he also describes pain as having two components which consist of sensory and emotional aspects. In addition to that, Basbaum feels pain is not a stimulus because it is a physical stimulus which our brain turns into a perception of that physical stimulus and in return we get pain. Thus, do put it simple he described it has people seeing and then assuming

groups compared to the end of the treatment period; however, rates of opioid use were lower in the extended treatment group (Leonard, 2009). George E. Woody, M.D. of the Treatment Research Institute at the University of Pennsylvania who conducted the study with his colleagues stated, “It’s hard to say what the ideal length of time for treatment is. When you start treatment, there are psychological features of addiction. First, you want to make sure they are not taking anything other than the methadone

strong euphoric effects. There are many short and long term effects when used or abused. Short term effects of heroin use include slowed cardiac system functions and breathing, intense itching, dry mouth, drowsiness and convulsions- especially in a case of an overdose. Long term effects include both mental and physical impairments, the mental issues include emotional instability and diminished libido. Other physical effects include impaired vision, collapsed veins, liver and kidney disease. Heroin

and Rossor (2003). Historically a prevailing view was that reflexive processes were fixed, however the work of Ivan Petrovich Pavlov demonstrated that this was not the case. In his research endeavors, Ivan Pavlov, a physiologist studying the process of digestion in dogs, uncovered what is now known as reflexive learning. In his studies of the process of digestion in dogs Pavlov observed that his laboratory dogs would salivate when their food was being prepared. This process of salivation occurred naturally