News You Can Use: How to Handle an Opioid Overdose

Specifically, knowing how to use Narcan could save a life, said Lt. Jason L. Welch, of the UM Police Department.

Narcan is the trade name for a nasal spray containing naloxone. Naloxone is an opioid blocker designed to treat someone experiencing the effects of an opioid overdose.

"While no one ever wants to encounter a crisis that requires naloxone, they still need to be prepared should such an emergency arise," Welch said. "Such knowledge can mean the difference between life and death.

"The good news is that the drug was designed to be administered by anyone."

Each dosage device has instructions for using it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has videos online showing how to use the devices, and both the UM William Magee Center for AOD and Wellness Education and Communicare, an Oxford counseling center, offer training resources for administering naloxone.

The medication works by removing opioids from the nerve receptors in a person's brain and blocking additional opioids from attaching to them. But the half-life, or time of effectiveness, of naloxone is shorter than the half-life of opioids, Welch cautioned.

"Even if someone recovers, they still need medical treatment," he said. "It is also important to note that naloxone won't harm someone if they're overdosing on drugs other than opioids, so it's always best to use it if you think someone is overdosing."

In many cases documented nationwide, the timely administration of naloxone saved lives, whether from voluntary or accidental exposure to opioids. Anticipation of and preparation for an opioid incident is critical, Welch said.

"Preemptively, it is wise to carry or have naloxone near if a person uses opioids or knows someone who does," he said.

If you see someone showing symptoms of an opioid overdose, Welch advises the following steps:

• Designate someone to call 911
• If possible, place the person on their side in a recovery position
• Check for breathing
• Administer naloxone
• Wait 2-3 minutes to see if the dose was effective or if additional doses are needed
• If the individual recovers and then relapses back into overdose, additional doses may be required
• Monitor the individual's breathing until EMS arrives and takes over.

The best prevention for an opioid overdose is to avoid illegal drugs, Welch said.

"I would suggest individuals seek help for themselves or others who use opioids," he said. "Everyone should be cautious and avoid taking any substance when one cannot verify its origin or exact contents.

"Fentanyl is 50-100 times stronger than morphine. Only a few micrograms of fentanyl can kill in a single dose and can also be absorbed through the skin."

Top: Narcan nasal spray, which contains naloxone, is designed to be administered by anyone to help individuals suffering from an opioid overdose. Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services