Description
Flat-lining. The Death Rattle. Unresponsive. Psychosis. Delirium. Uncontrollable. Threat to society.
All of these are various ways of indicating that one has had too much of any one substance, or even a combination of substances. Just how does an EMT or an ER clinician distinguish what a person may have overdosed upon? Then, just what does one treat that respective overdose with? In the chaotic world of opioid overdoses, for one example, whether from fentanyl analogs, diacetylmorphine (Heroin), or oxycodone, just how much naloxone will be needed to revive one’s breathing? An FDA panel of experts could not even concur on the “perfect dose” of naloxone for opioid-induced respiratory depression, yet we will discuss the main factors for triaging and treating a person having overdosed on opioids, or any multitude of other substances of abuse. Whether an overdose of ecstasy, heroin, or acetaminophen, all require immediate and expert care. This discussion is part of the overall Substances of Abuse Specialty Pharmacist (SASP) certificate training program. So please join us for a conversation about going well beyond our healthcare professional charge of “doing no harm” to aim much higher and save lives.