NALOXONE
A Temporary Lifesaver
Naloxone is the primary antidote available for those who have overdosed on opioids. It works very quickly to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose by restoring respiration to someone's whose breathing has slowed or even stopped.
Though this antidote has certainly decreased the casualty count of this epidemic, it has not eliminated the use of opioids, which is ultimately the goal.
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ADMINISTERING NALOXONE
Generally, medical professionals are the ones to administer naloxone, but just as anyone can administer an epipen to someone who is having a allergic reaction, though on a much larger scale, any one is able administer naloxone, depending on how it is prescribed.Â
Below are the three forms naloxone takes.
AUTO-INJECTABLE
EVZIO: pre-filled with verbal instructions and made easy for family and friends to use on the affected client
INJECTABLE
used by those who have received professional training on assembly and administration
NASAL SPRAY
NARCAN: pre-filled, needle-free, and requires no assembly
WHICH TREATMENT IS THE BEST?
After speaking with many qualified physicians, a pain management specialist, as well as one of his patients, they all believed suboxone to be the most effective and efficient drug treatment.
Read the following descriptions to learn about the three main treatments available
SUBLOCADE
This treatment is an injectable that is administered once-monthly to treat moderate to severe opioid use disorder. It acts in a very similar way to Vivitrol in that it is an injectable as well. The problem with this drug is that it does not fully block the opioid receptor, so if a patient does heroin on the drug they will still feel the high of the heroin.
SUBOXONE
This treatment is given as a prescription in a pill form, which separates it from the Sublocade and Vivitrol. The patients are given a prescription of Suboxone which they take daily. The positives to this drug is that it can be taken right away with no need to wait 7 days, and it also completely blocks the opioid receptor unlike the Sublocade and Vivitrol. An analogy of Suboxone would be "a key breaking off in a lock" and therefore not allowing any opioids to enter the patients system. The suboxone also plateaus meaning if the patient takes more than 1 Suboxone, the body and brain will not be affected in any way.
VIVITROL
This treatment is another injectable that is administered once every month by a pain management specialist. Though, like sublocade, it is an effective drug and does not cause any euphoria or withdrawal, the patient must be completely clean for 7 days. Most patients dislike this aspect because after 7 days they will have already begun to experience withdrawal symptoms.
IF THESE TREATMENTS EXIST, WHY DOESÂ THE OPIOID CRISIS CONTINUE TO BE A LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH?
The Problem
Though these treatments are in place and available to all, there is still a major issue. Money. These treatments are extremely expensive if a patient does not have insurance, and because the majority of the people affected by the opioid crisis do not have insurance, this is where the problem lies. Even though the treatments are technically available to all they are not financially available to all. One singular prescription of Suboxone can cost over $500, which means if a patient needs this treatment for 2 years, they will be spending $12,000 out-of-pocket.Â
In order for our country to see change in this crisis, this financial situation needs to change.