This is a good step forward for accessibility, but unfortunately, the $50 price tag will still put it out of the hands of many who need it. It should be handed out, for free, to anybody who wants it. There's zero downsides. It cannot be misused, diverted, or abused. It has no other uses. It has no effect on someone not ODing. It cannot benefit anyone in any possible way... unless they are actually dying right now. If we were serious about saving lives, we would be gladly giving it out. Hell, put it in free vending machines on the street. It would be the ultimate pro-life move. But, of course, in a capitalist hellscape, profit motive is of utmost importance. How about drug cos. making billions off opiods foot the bill? Thankfully, there are many great harm reduction organizations that do hand it out free, but the easier to get, the less people die. I recommend anyone pick up some, if you can find it for free, even if you don't think you'd need it. Home/work/car, you never know what might happen in your vicinity. It's like the modern Heimlich Maneuver. Ok... that's my PSA for the day.
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Replying to top comment for vis:
All you said is correct. Quick PSA, narcan is a temporary opioid blocker. If you administer narcan to an actual OD patient, they will rise to a higher level of consciousness. They may even be able to walk and talk.
They NEED to go to the hospital though, the opioids are still in their system, and once the narcan wears off they can drop into respiratory distress again.
Seriously, you can just inject it without any harm?
I was at the CNE in Toronto recently and they had a free narcan table. The person was busy so I walked by. Now i regret not waiting
The city I live in has a fairly bad homeless problem and drug use that comes with it. Just last week I walked past some office workers who had to call an ambulance on a guy that was having troubles, not sure what the trouble was. The guy seemed out of it but was eating a sandwich but just out of it. The ambulance showed up as I walked past. And this is a common sight at lunch.
I should have grabbed a kit just in case
You don't inject it, it's a nasal spray
This is why I didn't think I could handle the responsibilities.
Initially, it was only given by injection, but now it's common in the nasal spray. That's what's great about the nasal route, it's unintimidating and you can't fuck it up. ...I guess unless you squirt it in their ear or something. lol
Well, if you touched the applicator it would be quickly obvious
be careful the guy that you wake up with narcan doesn't punch you in the face
My parents have plenty of stories to tell of patients dying of an OD being pissed at them for 'ruining their high'
Wow, I didn't know it wasn't. That is crazy!
It was previously available behind the counter but a prescription was not needed .
To be clear, a prescription is still technically needed, but most states have laws in place that allows the pharmacist to write that prescription. Vaccines are done similarly.
Now it's time for conservatives to crow about how this is a bad thing and not have a good reason why.
And betray their pro-life stance, once again. As George Carlin said:
"They're all in favor of the unborn. They will do anything for the unborn. But once you're born, you're on your own. Pro-life conservatives are obsessed with the fetus from conception to nine months. After that, they don't want to know about you. They don't want to hear from you. No nothing. No neonatal care, no day care, no head start, no school lunch, no food stamps, no welfare, no nothing. If you're preborn, you're fine; if you're preschool, you're fucked."
Except even that isn't true. Do you see them pushing for free pre-natal care? If there's something wrong with your fetus that can be fixed through medical care and you can't afford it, fuck you and your baby, lady.
For my Aussie friends - there is a free Take Home Nalaxone program, you can go to a huge list of chemists and get it for free, no prescriptions, no intrusive questions, super easily.
I got mine a couple of weeks ago 😄
https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/take-home-naloxone-program/where-to-access-naloxone
Awesome! Great info. I never doubted you guys would have a better program then we do in the states. Cheers.
Same here, at least on the west coast of Canada. Free, take one or two and go save some lives!
why in the fuck would it not be to begin with
Conservatives don't want it?
i don't know. i think there are many inconsequential things you can't buy over the counter in the united states. i have to wonder if it's a health insurance complex thing.
I mean health insurance plays a part in it. Conservatives don't want to pay tax money on narcan for people they consider valueless when they are already paying for their own health care. How do I know they think they are valueless? They don't want them to have access to a life savings thing. Also plenty will just straight up tell you that if you ask.