Narcan Training: Preventing Deadly Opioid Overdose

The rise in opioid-related overdose deaths is prompting harm-reduction advocates to push harder for much-needed resources. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 100,000 people died from a drug overdose between February 2021 and February 2022. In Florida, deaths attributed to opioids increased by 42% from 2019 to 2020.¹

August 31st is National Overdose Awareness Day, a time to focus on solutions that can help to save lives.

Recovery First Treatment Center’s Free Training Event

Recovery First Treatment Center’s medical staff will host a virtual training event to demonstrate how to safely administer Narcan—the opioid overdose reversal drug.

This virtual training offered by the staff at our Florida rehab facility will stream live on Tuesday, August 30th from 12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m on our Facebook page. After successfully completing the training participants will receive a digital badge acknowledging they are Narcan trained certified.

What Is Narcan (Naloxone)?

Narcan, which is the brand name for the generic drug naloxone, is a medication that can rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and save someone’s life. Naloxone is available as a nasal spray (Narcan) and an autoinjector. Narcan is a nasal spray.

When a person takes more opioids than their body can handle, they may overdose, which may result in slowed/stopped breathing, loss of consciousness, and death.²

Naloxone attaches to the opioid receptors in the body, and blocks and reverses the effects of opioids.¹ The drug works to reverse overdoses from such opioids as:²

• Fentanyl.
• Heroin.
• Oxycontin (oxycodone).
• Codeine.
• Vicodin (hydrocodone).
• Morphine.

Florida’s Opioid Overdose Epidemic

Opioids are the most common cause of overdose deaths in Florida. Growing fentanyl access and the rise of street drugs and counterfeit pills that are “cut” with fentanyl are contributing to the increase in opioid overdose. Fentanyl was determined to be the cause of more than 5,000 deaths in Florida, in 2020.

Raid of Miami-Area Pharmacy Shows the Problem Continues

To curb the opioid crisis, law enforcement officials continue to crack down on the unauthorized distribution of prescription painkillers. FBI agents raided a pharmacy in the Miami-area, after finding evidence that it may be the largest opioid “pill mill” in Florida.

A pill mill is an illegal operation in which addictive painkillers are prescribed for non-medical reasons resulting in pills being sold on the streets.  Prescription drugs (e.g., opioids, benzodiazepines, and sleeping pills such as Ambien) cause more overdose deaths in Florida than illicit drugs.¹ The increased availability of Narcan is critical to the prevention of further overdose deaths.

Having access to Narcan, and being trained to use it, can be an effective way to fight the opioid overdose epidemic. Effectively administering Narcan during an opioid overdose can save lives, giving those struggling with addiction an opportunity to seek help.