The epidemic of opioid abuse in the United States has led to a significant number of deaths from overdose, yet a new survey reveals that the majority of Americans still do not know how to assist someone who has overdosed on opioids.
According to the survey conducted by Ohio State University, over three-quarters of individuals indicated that they would not know how to respond if they witnessed an overdose.
Dr. Trent Hall, an addiction medicine physician at Ohio State University, said that in the past two decades, the number of deaths from drug overdoses in the United States has quadrupled.
The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that 293 people die from drug overdoses daily, making it the leading cause of accidental death in the United States.
Experts point out that there are currently two FDA-approved medications that can reverse overdoses caused by opioids such as heroin or fentanyl.
Naloxone and naltrexone, sold under the brand names Narcan and Opvee, are easy-to-use nasal sprays that can block the effects of opioids on the brain and body.
However, the survey found that most people expressed reluctance to administer these medications.
“Some people tell me they feel nervous or uncomfortable about the idea of using naloxone to save a life,” Hall said in a university press release. “But nothing is more terrifying than witnessing an overdose and not being able to help. Carrying naloxone gives you the power to save lives in your community.”
Researchers note that naloxone can be purchased over the counter without a prescription and is also available for free from many community programs.
“We know that over 100,000 Americans die each year from drug overdoses,” Hall said. “Naloxone has saved countless lives across the country. We will never know exactly how many lives have been saved because many overdoses go unreported.”