HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — With the recent news of overdoses in the North Alabama area, fentanyl is back in the spotlight. You might be wondering how you can help someone in an opioid overdose situation.
In 2023, HEMSI responded to 950 calls related to drug overdoses. So far in 2024, they are averaging 2.6 calls a day related to some form of drug abuse.
So what can be done to help someone who might be overdosing?
Narcan, or in a lab, naloxone, is a drug that can do one simple thing, allow for someone who has overdosed on opioids to breath. As HEMSI's Don Webster explains, "Narcan is a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid type overdose, whether it's intentional or accidental. And it reverses. It can help reverse that and restore the person to go back in starting to breathe on their own."
But paramedics are not always able to be there in time, and during a study by Ohio State University, a shocking number of adults felt that they would be unable to help if they came across someone that was overdosing. Trent Hall, DO with OSU says, "A recent survey here at The Ohio State University found that 77% of respondents were concerned that they wouldn't be able to help if they saw an overdose. And this is very concerning because we know that the more of us who are prepared to save a life, the more lives we can save together."
If you want to find some local training, you can find it online, and you can earn a free dose of narcan to keep on you. For Alabama residents, access to lifesaving Narcan and fentanyl test strips is only a click away. Training by the Jefferson County Department of Health allows any resident to receive Narcan and several fentanyl test strips after a short, free online course.
But Webster reminds people that Narcan is not a free pass to use drugs. "This is not a, get out of jail free card or something like that. I mean, by that, what I'm saying is, 'Wow, I have some Narcan here. So let's go over here and get high and, you know, take some opioids or let's do some fentanyl and get real high because we have this here.' That's that's not a get out of jail card or guarantee that this is going to work"
Narcan is designed to help reverse the effects of an opioid overdose in minutes. Narcan nasal spray is first naloxone product approved for use without a prescription.
Narcan can be sold directly to consumers in locations such as drug stores, convenience stores, grocery stores and gas stations, as well as online. In addition to Narcan, naloxone is available in an injectable form and in other doses. The other formulations and dosages of naloxone will remain available by prescription only.
The standing order by State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris will remain in place for naloxone and does not expire. The standing order allows pharmacists to dispense naloxone formulations and dosages that are prescription only. Medicaid patients can access naloxone through prescription.
Naloxone information can be viewed here.