Busting Three Myths about Naloxone
Naloxone saves lives
Naloxone is a medication designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. While naloxone can be given through the muscle, skin, or veins, it is most commonly used through a nasal spray. This allows people without medical training to safely carry and administer it to anyone who may need it. Naloxone is also known by its name brands Narcan and Evzio.
There are many misconceptions about this life-saving medication, and we hope to clear up the confusion and break through the stigma involved. Naloxone saves lives and life is worth saving!
Myth #1: naloxone is dangerous
Narcan acts only on the opioid receptors, by blocking them from receiving any opioids in the person’s system. If there’s no opioids in their system, it does nothing. This means naloxone is safe to carry around (even if you have children or pets) and safe to give to someone you aren’t 100 percent sure is overdosing. If they aren’t, nothing will happen. Don’t be afraid to save a life.
Myth #2: Naloxone makes people violent
There are countless stories floating around of people receiving naloxone and waking up to become violent and dangerous, but these leave out crucial details of the story. When people overdose on opioids, they often feel as if they are simply going to sleep. They are also often by themselves. It is often law enforcement who finds the overdose victim and administers naloxone.
So, imagine you fall asleep alone in your room and are woken up suddenly by police holding you down and chaos around you. You might become a little agitated too, right? Try to use common sense after administering naloxone to avoid panic in the patient. If they are a loved one, act accordingly. If they are a stranger, probably give them some space.
Myth #3: Naloxone is used on the same people over and over again.
Research shows that most patients do not have repeated overdose events and only require one administration of naloxone. These are the kind of myths that create a stigma of people burdening society and resources, dehumanizing them in the process. Everyone has someone in their life that is affected by opioid abuse. We all need to work to remember that people struggling with addiction are loved and that every life is worth saving.
Get some naloxone!
Naloxone can, and should, be carried by everyone and has become much more readily available in the past few years.
Anyone can get naloxone without a prescription, directly from a pharmacist. If you are covered by insurance, there is often little to no copay. You don’t need insurance to obtain naloxone though, and out-of-pocket costs are typically less than $100. There is also the Naloxone Co-payment Assistance Program (N-CAP), that will cover a copayment for naloxone of up to $40.
There are also many organizations and charities that offer trainings and free doses of naloxone. Locally, that includes Healing Cortland and others that can be found on the map here.
