Saturday, June 25, 2016

Heroin and Opioid Overdose Help for Users and Abusers

Recently Governor Ducey signed a new law allowing Naloxone also know as Narcan to be dispensed without a prescription. Narcan is a miracle drug to me. As a paramedic I would give Narcan to a patient down from a heroin overdose in respiratory arrest. Within in seconds the patient would wake up, many times mad because we ruined their high. That is until we told them if we would have arrived a few minutes later, they would be dead.

Please, if you know anyone who either uses opioid for pain, or abuses heroin or opioids to keep some Narcan on hand. There's no need for an IV like the old days, it's delivered by a simple nasal spray.

For those who abuse heroin or opioids there's an app for that too. It's called Remote Egg Timer and it's for those who abuse drugs. Currently it's only available at the Android App Store.

Remote Egg Timer allows you to set a contact person, time, and GPS locator. When the user shoots up they start the timer, in 10 minutes an alarm goes off asking if they're ok. If they don't respond, a text message is sent to your contact saying something like "I used call 911".

This app would also be good for those people who are a little stubborn when having chest pain, shortness of breath or stroke symptoms like our neighbor. She had left arm pain for 2 1/2 hours before calling for help.

Please if you have chest pain, arm pain, or shortness of breath, call 911.




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