The opioid crisis has impacted communities in many ways, and parents often underestimate the importance of preparing youth to deal with the consequences of opioids. The prevalence of opioids in the drug supply renders it a necessity for parents to talk to their teens about the risks of overdoses.
Healthcare providers can prescribe fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid 5-100x stronger than morphine, for pain relief or can also include illicit substances like heroin or powdered fentanyl. Examples of these types of drugs include codeine, morphine, hydromorphone, methadone, fentanyl, and heroin.
Counterfeit medications are now increasingly laced with fentanyl to foster addiction. Ninety percent of counterfeit opioids, such as Oxycodone and Percocet, are laced with fentanyl, and twenty-five percent of counterfeit non-opioid medications are laced with fentanyl.
Most adolescents do not have an opioid or drug addiction. College-aged youth, however, often seek pain or anti-anxiety medication, such as Xanax. These pills, usually purchased online or passed among peers, may look identical to the actual medication but may contain fentanyl. A lethal dose of fentanyl is equivalent to less than a grain of rice. Youth need to understand the risks, and that unless prescribed by a doctor and dispensed by a pharmacy, a pill may contain fentanyl.
Narcan, the brand name for naloxone, is a medication specifically designed to counteract opioid overdoses. When someone overdoses on opioids, from prescription pain relievers to illicit substances, Narcan intervenes by binding to receptors in the brain and reversing life-threatening respiration suppression. Narcan has been proven safe in children and adults. Even if the cause of the medical emergency is not an overdose, Narcan will not harm you. Narcan is administered through a nasal spray and is effective immediately.
Narcan is a life-saving tool that empowers individuals to take action and save lives. Educating parents, youth, and communities about the dangers of fentanyl and the life-saving qualities of Narcan can play a crucial role in combating the opioid crisis. When seconds matter, Narcan can make all the difference.
To order a free Narcan kit:
Harm Reduction Delivered | Office of Addiction Services and Supports
How to administer Narcan:
https://youtu.be/EHMFjo25F2U?si=KdX7EqUmzLCRwgCT
All Blogs are written by Professionals in the fields of Nutrition, Human Development and Diabetes.