Should I Send My Kid Off to College With Narcan?
My answer: Yes.
Why? Because over 90% of opioid deaths are unintentional — many recreational drug users are exposed inadvertently, through drugs laced with fentanyl (a highly potent opioid) or other contaminants.
Narcan, or naloxone, reverses the effects of opioids by blocking their receptors. Opioids are highly addictive painkillers, ranging from prescriptions like morphine, Percocet, and Oxycontin to heroin or fentanyl-laced street drugs. They’re accessible, and opioid-related deaths happen across all age groups.
Unintentional opioid overdose accounts for 10% of deaths among 15-19 year-olds and over 20% in those aged 20-29.
As a Parent, Here Is What You Can Do About It
Know the facts.
- Anyone can use Narcan, and it does not require a prescription. It is available at drug stores, usually behind the counter or local overdose prevention programs may distribute it at no cost.
- Narcan is a nasal spray, easy to administer, and can restore breathing within a few minutes of administration.
- All states and DC have Good Samaritan laws which protect individuals who administer Narcan and call 911. Most states also have laws to protect the person saved by the Narcan.
- Under Good Samaritan laws, if you see an non-responsive individual and suspect an overdose, using Narcan will not cause any harm, even if opioids turns out not to be the cause.
- If you or someone you care about is a recreational drug user, they should certainly carry Narcan and inform others they are carrying it, since it is too late for a person who has overdosed to administer it to themselves.
Talk with your adolescent about Narcan.
This conversation is ideally not accusatory, but curious and bidirectional. I read an article on Narcan — do you know anything about it? I was going to get one for myself and thought maybe you may want one also, since we can never predict when it may be needed.
If your teen decides to carry Narcan, review its use: Tilt the unresponsive person’s head back and spray the medication in either nostril. Wait 2 to 3 minutes. If breathing does not recover, and you have another dose, administer another dose in the other nostril. You can view a short, explanatory video together.
911 should be called immediately upon concern for overdose — either before simultaneously with administering Narcan.
One last piece of advice: never take a painkiller from a friend. Counterfeit painkillers or even other medications, like Xanax, can be laced with fentanyl. If you need a prescription medication, pick it up at a pharmacy. Of course, it’s better to never take any pills from anyone — painkillers or otherwise.
The Breakdown.
Opioid overdose can happen inadvertently. Narcan saves lives. It is available without prescription and carrying it may save a life.
If you or someone you care for is facing substance abuse, please find some resources here.
You may also enjoy learning about other ways to save a life.
Thank you for reading my human-generated articles! If you found this helpful or educational, please share, follow on your preferred platform, or subscribe below. For concierge parent coaching or consultations, please contact me at www.DrAngel.com.
For more perspective on what it takes to have and raise a thriving little human, check out my podcast, The Unplanned Parent, on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen or watch.
References:
Olfson, Mark et al. “Trends in Intentional and Unintentional Opioid Overdose Deaths in the United States, 2000-2017.” JAMA vol. 322,23 (2019): 2340-2342. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.16566
Gomes, Tara et al. “Trends in Opioid Toxicity-Related Deaths in the US Before and After the Start of the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2011-2021.” JAMA network open vol. 6,7 e2322303. 3 Jul. 2023, doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.22303
Lippold, Kumiko M et al. “Racial/Ethnic and Age Group Differences in Opioid and Synthetic Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths Among Adults Aged ≥18 Years in Metropolitan Areas – United States, 2015-2017.” MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report vol. 68,43 967-973. 1 Nov. 2019, doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6843a3
https://www.cdc.gov/stop-overdose/caring/naloxone.html
https://www.cdc.gov/stop-overdose/response/index.html
Kelly, Eamonn et al. “The anomalous pharmacology of fentanyl.” British journal of pharmacology vol. 180,7 (2023): 797-812. doi:10.1111/bph.15573