Opioid overdose can happen to anyone

Published: Wednesday, March 7, 2018

By Beverly Clark, Health Promotion Coordinator, Henderson County Department of Public Health

We regularly hear news stories of our country’s struggle with opioid overdoses. Many of us know at least one person who has lost a child or family member to an accidental overdose. It is often through those firsthand experiences that we have learned just how easily someone can become addicted to a painkiller.

An opioid overdose can happen to anyone of any age, race, socioeconomic or educational level. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) explains that an overdose can happen for a variety of reasons:

• A person might misunderstand the directions for use, accidentally take an extra dose, or deliberately misuse a prescription opioid or an illegal drug like heroin.

• A person might take an opioid medication that was prescribed for someone else.

• A person might mix opioids with other medications, alcohol or over-the-counter drugs.

The list of reasons for overdose could go on, but what’s important is that we all learn the signs of an overdose and not hesitate to act if we suspect someone is in trouble. According to the Harm Reduction Coalition, the signs that may indicate an overdose include:

• Loss of consciousness

• Unresponsive to outside stimulus

• A person is awake, but unable to talk

Breathing is very slow and shallow, erratic, or has stopped

• For lighter skinned people, the skin tone turns bluish purple; for darker skinned people, it turns grayish or ashen

• Choking sounds, or a snore-like gurgling noise

• Vomiting

• Body is very limp

• Face is very pale or clammy

• Fingernails and lips turn blue or purplish black

• Pulse (heartbeat) is slow, erratic, or not there at all

The Coalition goes on to say that if you are worried that someone is getting too high, it is important that you not leave them alone. If the person is still conscious, walk them around, keep them awake and monitor their breathing.

What if that person – your child, grandfather, friend – isn’t conscious and you can’t rouse them? If you believe they may have been taking an opioid, what should you do? Call 911? Definitely! But you can do something before help arrives by giving the person another drug called naloxone, or Narcan which can be requested from any North Carolina pharmacist. Naloxone can often reverse the effects of an overdose if given soon enough, and it’s easy to use.

Naloxone is available as a nasal spray or as an injection. The injectable form is best administered directly into a muscle such as the thigh, buttocks or upper arm. With either method, if the person does not resume consciousness within 2-3 minutes, the process should be repeated. If recovery still doesn’t occur, the person may not have experienced an opioid overdose, the opioid may be unusually strong, or the heart may have already stopped.

Naloxone works by blocking the action of opioids in the brain. As a result, some people who are revived experience withdrawal symptoms and want to use again right away which could cause another overdose. It’s important to stay with a person and encourage them to not use an opioid again until they are seen by a doctor.

A North Carolina law protects those who ask for help from 911, the police or EMS because they or another person is having a drug overdose. The law in North Carolina also protects those who give naloxone to someone who is having an overdose.

Many people in our community are working to stop overdoses caused by opioids. You can learn more and support opioid prevention by attending these events:

  • Thursday , March 29, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.: Sam Quinones, author of Dreamland, will speak at Blue Ridge Community College’s Conference Hall to share the importance of a community response to this epidemic that is sweeping our nation and affecting our surrounding communities. Tickets are $5 and available at Eventbrite.com or contact hoperxhc@gmail.com.
  • Friday, March 30, 7 p.m.: Hope Candlelight Vigil will be held at the Historic Courthouse in honor of those lost to, affected by, or battling addiction.
  • Saturday, April 7, 9 a.m.: Nik’s Hope Run, a 5K to raise awareness about addiction, will take place at Patton Park.

For more information about opioids, click on the Opioid Crisis and naloxone link at hendersoncountync.org/health.

Beverly Clark is the health promotion coordinator at the Henderson County Department of Public Health. She can be reached at bclark@hendersoncountync.org.

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