Surgeon General Advises Local Residents to Carry Drug that stops Opium Overdoses

Diane Lilli
Posted

In a report by Josh Katz for the New York Times, stats show that "More Americans died of drug overdoses in 2016 than died in the entirety of the Vietnam War — the result of the US's opioid epidemic."

What would - or could - you do to save the life of a loved one if he/she overdoses on an opiate?

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome M. Adams has issued a national advisory that offers a life-saving tip:Americans should keep on hand a drug called Naloxone.

Naloxone currently saves the lives of thousands of Opioid users who overdose.

Until now, EMT or police administer this life saving drug, but with more than 250,000 Americans dead from opioid overdose over the past ten years, this advice is well worth heading.

Think about it: mostly everyone you know will know someone or know of someone whose family has lost someone to this deadly epidemic.

Dr. Adams issued a statement that said, in part, "It is time to make sure more people have access to this lifesaving medication, because 77 percent of overdose deaths occur outside of a medical setting and more than half occur at home."

With synthetic Fentanyl popular and now widely used, drug deaths from this drug have more than doubled from 2015-2016 alone. This drug is so deadly it may take numerous doses of Naloxone to save victims. At the same time, other drugs such as heroin, methamphetamines are also wreaking havoc across the U.S.

Now, the surgeon general's idea is creating discussion among national, state and local health officials and government leaders. This pro-active idea would save lives, since people at home would be able to immediately administer Naloxone to a loved one if he/she overdoses.

As per how to get this drug to keep on hand and how to use it, the exorbitant costs of Naloxone and the availability are under discussion.

But as one Montclair mother said upon hearing this news, if she had only had the chance to give this to her son, he would be here today.

"My son relapsed once, and that was all it took to kill him," she said. "He had no chance. He died at home - and I believe this idea will save so many other children. We've got to do something."

Updates to follow.