Posted on 10/01/2023 11:20:07 AM PDT by grundle
In September, Narcan — the first over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration without a prescription — was rolled out to pharmacies and drugstores across the United States with a retail price of $44.99 for a pack of two devices. Experts have already hailed the widespread availability of the medication, which quickly reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, as a "lifesaving" tool amid alarming rates of drug overdose deaths. In 2021, more than 75% of those deaths involved opioids, with fentanyl contributing to more than 77% of adolescent overdose deaths that year. Indeed, New York City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene issued an advisory this week urging New Yorkers to "carry naloxone and know how to use it," noting that fentanyl was detected in 81% of the city's drug overdose deaths in 2022.
But do enough Americans know enough about Narcan, the brand-name nasal spray form of naloxone, and how to use it to make a difference? According to a new Yahoo News/YouGov poll, just 28% of respondents said they had heard "a lot" about Narcan; a further 43% had a "little" awareness about the over-the-counter medication. And 29% of those surveyed reported hearing "nothing at all" about it. Broken down by age, respondents ages 18 to 29 were least likely to be informed about Narcan, which is credited with saving pop star Demi Lovato during a 2018 overdose; 50% in that demographic had heard "nothing at all" and just 17% had heard "a lot."
The poll also found that just 7% of respondents had purchased Narcan, and only 8% had been trained to administer it in the event of an emergency.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
Retired from decades in healthcare, and absolutely will not consider ever using it on a stranger. Assessment requires careful observation of the eyes reaction to a point of light and checking pulse and respiration. Not just seeing someone under some influence of UNKNOWN substance(s).
So far my little dog has resisted becoming addicted to fentanyl
So no I don’t really need that crap
Do enough Americans care about OD'd drug users to even bother thinking of carrying it and learning how to use it to make a difference?
I doubt it, and I, for one, do not ever expect to be somewhere where I encounter an OD'd fentanyl user.
Too bad they don’t spend any time on the causes like open borders but worry so much about the symptoms
Sorry, pharma. No one in my immediate family uses opioids. If they did they would become persona non grata.
Agreed. Not to mention that if you use it on someone and it is inappropriate for the situation, the lawyers circling overhead will swoop down to pick your bones clean.
Retired from decades in healthcare, and absolutely will not consider ever using it on a stranger.
Yeah, no thanks as well. Seems like a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Narcan? I thought that was the stuff paramedics give to ODs?
my husband got oxy and Narcan after a surgery.
I got rid of both. My niece was flabbergasted I did not keep the Narcan “just in case”
Does this mean fly-by-night operators will be sending Narcan that they didn’t order to seniors and charging Medicare?
Like Covid-19 tests?
just...say...no....
Serious question.
People who use/abuse illegal drugs just assumes everyone does the same. They are shocked to find out that such is not so. If you are not in an environment where you are likely to come in contact with fentanyl, why should you plan to buy Narcan?
Besides, opioid deaths pale in comparison to all them gun deaths. Especially those AR kind. YUGE S/!
So, a junkie who mad e a conscious decision to do drugs can get lifesaving drugs, OTC for $50
Someone with life threatening allergies needs a doctor, a prescription and hundreds of dollars for epipens. And they didn’t make a conscious decision to have a life threatening allergy.
Someone with asthma, needs a doctor, a prescription and spend a lot of money to get an inhaler or some other treatment. They didn’t choose to have asthma.
The list could go on and on and on
I think I would only apply it to someone who didn’t know they took such a drug needing it.
For those who chose to take such a drug, I’d probably just leave.
The 40% are the problem
So, then:
We’re supposed to act like first responders by diagnosing an overdose condition in a life-or-death scenario and purchase/carry lifesaving tool of narcan with us...
...but we’re also supposed to wait for the police because they say only police should carry firearms and they don’t want us to possess the proper tools to respond to life-or-death scenarios.
Got it.
/s
I am currently in cancer treatment from the VA due to AO exposure and take lots of Percocet the VA sends me Narcocet every few months.
I’ve got lots to spare lol
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.