Bridge to Wellness

Opioid Overdose Awareness: Don’t be a statistic. Learn about Naloxone.

by Jennifer Matthews

August 31 was International Opioid Overdose Awareness day. Overdose is the leading injury-related cause of death in the United States where, in 2022, almost 108,000 people died from a drug overdose. That’s 296 deaths per day. Among these overdose deaths, 76% involved opioids.

In 2022, an estimated 54.6 million Americans needed substance use disorder treatment, but only 13.1 million people received treatment. Without treatment, overdose is highly likely, and these numbers continue to rise. While many of us will, hopefully, never feel the sting of losing a loved one to overdose, these statistics show that, unfortunately, many of us already have or will.

The more we know as a community, the more we can prevent 

Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids such as heroin, fentanyl, and morphine. Image credit: NEXT Distro on Unsplash.com

Opioid use disorder, also called opioid dependence or opioid addiction, is defined as “a problematic pattern of opioid use that causes significant impairment or distress.” This is a medical condition that can affect anyone. Often an unnecessary stigma exists that prevents people from getting treatment.

Opioid dependence can occur regardless of gender, race, income level, or social status. We should never treat someone struggling with this disorder as less than or unreachable. Rather, we should encourage and help connect these people to treatment and support them as they are managing their addiction. Most communities, including our own, have addiction programs and resources available. Anyone can get addiction assistance by contacting the National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (call 1-800-662-HELP or visit their website at findtreatment.gov).

Did you know that any one of us can be a first responder to an opioid overdose and potentially save a life? Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids such as heroin, fentanyl, and morphine. As the opioid crisis continues, many communities are making Naloxone available to anyone at no cost. Naloxone is not difficult to administer, and training videos are readily available. That means you could be a prepared bystander capable of saving a life.

If you or someone you know takes opioids on a regular basis, whether prescribed or illegally, you should have Naloxone on hand and know how to use it. If your physician prescribes an opioid medication, you can also request a prescription for Naloxone to have on hand.

If opioids are being taken without a prescription there are several ways to gain access to Naloxone through community programs.

The state of Michigan has put into place a Naloxone standing order for pharmacies. This means that anyone can gain access to Naloxone and training. You can search for a standing order pharmacy that has Naloxone available at naloxoneforall.org.  All local health departments can also provide you with resources for Naloxone training and medication to have on hand.

Naloxone is coming to Stockbridge

The community of Stockbridge is currently working with 5 Healthy Towns and SRSLY to install a Naloxone dispenser in the Village. The location is yet to be determined but will be shared with the public once available. Stockbridge Community Schools now has a Board policy to have Naloxone available for use. Many of the school staff have been trained to recognize an opioid overdose and provide Naloxone treatment if necessary.

I am proud to work in a community that recognizes the importance of prevention and emergency preparedness. This is just one more way we can be prepared to help others.

Sources: 

• “National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day Toolkit” at cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/php/toolkits/fentanyl-prevention-awareness-day.html
• “Reverse Opioid Overdose to Prevent Death” at cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/reversing-overdose/
• NEXT Distro at naloxoneforall.org

This column is sponsored by the Stockbridge Area Wellness Coalition. Jennifer Matthews, RN, is a registered nurse in the Stockbridge School System. She has worked as a community nurse for the last eight years and is an active volunteer within the Jackson County foster care system. Jen has a passion for helping individuals advocate for their health and learn to navigate the healthcare system