Heroin Has No Boundaries, NEMSAC Members Learn
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The statistics are staggering.
Drug overdose deaths have surpassed the number of those killed in crashes on the nation’s highways.
Office of National Drug Control Policy Deputy Director Mary Lou Leary also told National EMS Advisory Council members that heroin has no boundaries. It’s being found in the most affluent communities as well as in rural areas and inner cities.
Of the 44,000 drug poisoning deaths in 2013, the majority were from prescriptions as well as about 16,000 overdoses of opiates, and 8,000, heroin-related, she said.
Once a person gets addicted to opiates, they often discover it’s much cheaper and easier to obtain heroin.
As the purity of heroin increases, a person’s first hit may be fatal. However, the administration of Naloxone (Narcan) is making a difference, Leary said adding that it’s essential that victims get timely and correct treatment.
While it’s proven to save lives, some jurisdictions still haven’t embraced the idea of allowing police officers to administer the drug. However, there will be Department of Justice grant funds available in the next fiscal budget to purchase the kits.
Leary stressed that in addition to learning how to give the drug, officers have to also know how to keep an airway open as well as CPR.
She pointed out that in 2010, officers in Quincy, Mass. administered Narcan 382 times, and recorded 360 saves.
It’s also vital that everyone truly believe “they are in the business of saving lives not judging.”
Some states also have passed Good Samaritan laws that say a person who calls for help for an overdose patient will not be arrested. She lauded the jurisdictions that have stepped up to the plate to help save lives.
“…The bottom line, it’s about life.”
And, even though the life-saving drug is already in the hands of family members and other civilians as well as law enforcement and EMS personnel, a number of agencies are studying the issue. Among them are the CDC and NHTSA.
Currently, there is only one supplier of the drug, which is causing the cost to skyrocket. But, that may soon change.
A number of NEMSAC members mentioned that there were more doses stockpiled in their police departments than in the EMS supply cabinets.
NEMSAC Chair Aaron Reinert said there’s a serious need for data collection across the board.
The next council, which should be appointed by the end of April, will likely continue the conversation, he noted.
