Multiple people reportedly overdosed on drugs in separate incidents in Lakewood today.
The patients were given the narcan antidote (nalaxone), and then hospitalized.
Officials on multiple different occasions told TLS they feel the spike in overdoses are due to the fact that drug users feel secure knowing they will be revived with Narcan, should they overdose and lose consciousness.
Earlier this month, TLS reported that eight lives are lost each day in New Jersey due to drug overdoses, according to the Department of Health.
Acting Health Commissioner Judith M. Persichilli stated, “We are committed to linking all those in need to treatment and services by engaging healthcare providers, harm reduction centers, local health officials and emergency care providers in the fight to save lives.”
In 2019, EMS administered nearly 10,000 doses of naloxone.
The Department also announced it is increasing access to naloxone.
The question is, is the access to nalaxone doing drug users a favor, or giving them a false sense of security, which could result in their deaths?
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Must’ve been a bad batch out on the street today…..
I got fresh stash today and me feelin high as ever
Don’t think so I got fresh stash today and me feelin high as ever
On the other hand, without Narcan, these addicts would be dead. There have been overdoses for decades before Narcan, and there will be after. This is just a way to save lives.
It is absolutely contributing to the increase of overdoses. Although it seems from the outside as a life saving drug in actuality it’s only preserving these people to overdose again. Unless some policy is put in place that if someone was revived with Narcan there is a mandatory 90 days in a rehab it’s only going to get worse
So much pain out there. When is society actually get to the reason why so many are turning to these terrible drugs to numb the pain??
People who are satisfied and happy don’t turn to drugs.
Live satisfied lives. Be happy. Live for someone. Love someone. Be productive. PEACE.
So if I’m a addict and over dose g-d forbid I have to die because of the few clowns who take advantage you guys don’t know how hard it is to keep offf this stuff even with going to rehab
Perhaps both…depends on what the person does with their life after being revived. Do they go back to using, or does it serve as a wake up call to turn their life around?
I have seen reports from ERs around the country that EMS might bring in a OD patient revived by Narcan in the morning, they guy gets released from the ER, only to be brought back hours later again for the same reason. Narcan is absolutely not a solution. I am afraid that those who are already addicted are lost causes for the most part. Hopefully the next generation will take heed and not even start with these poisons.
You cannot just give up on people. There’s always a chance to turn it around. Many do, even after a number of relapses. Narcan and rehab are essential.
As an emergency services volunteer would like to say that Narcan is absolutely saving lives, thousands a day across the country. There is a bad batch that hit the streets and that is having an effect on OD’s as a whole. The issue is that sometimes there are people who aren’t prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, or not caught at all when distributing these horrific drugs to our children. If the punishment was just given as prescribed in the law, and cushy deals were not made for people or by people who wield power in this town, you can rest assured that the amount of OD’s would drop. Dealers know what they are doing. They come here because they will have a better chance of getting free. Throwing the book at them would be very helpful. Thanks.
we cannot judge our fellow human beings as it says during the Yomim Noraim services that we forgive so that the Lord will forgive us, nobody is perfect. Many former addicts I know have gone on to relatively normal lives although on SSI disability due to their many issues.