Addiction medicine specialists Dr. Casey Grover and Dr. Reb Close share essential information about using naloxone (Narcan) to save lives during opioid overdoses. They discuss how naloxone administration differs between hospital settings and community response, emphasizing that having this medication readily available is crucial in today's world of fentanyl-contaminated street drugs.
• Naloxone should be as normalized and common as fire extinguishers in homes and workplaces
• In medical settings, naloxone can be carefully titrated to prevent precipitating severe withdrawal
• In community settings, the protocol is simple: administer nasal naloxone, call 911, wait for help
• Only 4% of naloxone prescriptions are actually picked up at pharmacies, making direct distribution essential
• Almost all street drugs now contain fentanyl, placing anyone who uses illicit substances at risk of opioid overdose
• Effective community training includes brief videos, hands-on demonstrations, and normalizing the medication
• Emerging substances in the drug supply (xylazine, synthetic benzos) make naloxone even more important
• Framing naloxone as a tool to help others rather than oneself can overcome stigma-based resistance
If you want to conduct a naloxone training in your community and need resources like videos, slide decks, or handouts, please email Dr. Grover.
Together we can ensure everyone has the knowledge and tools to prevent overdose deaths.
To contact Dr. Grover: ammadeeasy@fastmail.com
