September 28, 2024
I carry Narcan (Naloxone) in the glove compartment of my car. You never know when you might run into someone who is overdosing on opiates (for instance, had some been available when a client of mine, who was pregnant with twins, fatally overdosed in a service station bathroom).
Apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks it’s a handy thing to have around.
The CDC recently announced that, for the first time in decades, drug overdose deaths in the US fell in 2023 —by 10.6% overall, while in certain states the decline was as high as 30%.
The reason? One major factor appears to be the ready availability of Narcan.
Brad Finegold, who oversees an overdose crisis center in Seattle, told NPR that the amount of Narcan in the community has tripled, and that 85% of high-risk drug users now carry it with them.