How to use Narcan?

March 16, 2020 by c_ferry Leave a Comment

Questions like, “What is Narcan?,” and “What is naloxone?” are common from people who don’t know about these lifesaving drugs, so today’s post will focus on helping you understand how these drugs work and why they’re effective.

The United States is in the middle of an opioid crisis, and this means that it’s important for you to know that relapse and overdose are common occurrences in the recovery process. Fortunately, there are safe, lifesaving drugs that can be administered to someone who overdoses on opioids.

Breaking the addiction cycle is difficult for both the person on a journey of sobriety as well as the friends and family members who are witnessing the struggle.

What is Narcan?

Narcan is the brand name of a special class of drugs that are labeled as “opioid antagonists.”

Drugs like heroin, fentanyl, morphine, oxycodone, and other similarly addictive opioid substances work by binding to specific receptors in the brain and spinal cord. When opioids bind to these receptors, they block pain signals and trigger a release of the chemical dopamine, which controls feelings of pleasure. This combination of blocked pain signals and flooding of pleasure sensations is a major part of why opioid drugs can so easily become addictive.

In contrast, opioid antagonists counteract the pain-blocking properties of these drugs. They do not allow the opioids to bind to those receptors, and this effectively negates the positive aspects of taking the drugs.

This is different from drugs like methadone because those drugs mimic the effects of an opioid in order to lessen cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Opioid antagonists remove all of the pleasurable aspects of taking the narcotics, and they can also be used to rapidly reverse the effects of an overdose.

What Are the Different Names For It?

Narcan is a specific brand name, so it is common to see different names for the same type of drug. Some of these names are simply generic, and others are brand names for drugs that are in the same class of opioid antagonists.

Below are the most common names you will encounter when talking about opioid antagonist drugs that are used to reverse an overdose or help with a sobriety program.

– Naloxone
– Naltrexone
– Vivitrol
– Nalorphine

How Can Naloxone Be Administered?

There are a few different ways that these overdose reversal drugs can be administered.

1. Injection

Injections are typically only done by people like paramedics who have been professionally trained on how to use Narcan. Administering injections requires skill and practice, so this is not an ideal method for anyone without medical training.

2. Auto-injection

There are special, prefilled injectors that are safe for anyone to administer. They can be used by friends or family members as well as paramedics to give a quick, lifesaving dose of the drug directly into the thigh muscle. These injectors also have prerecorded verbal instructions, which means that you do not have to be trained on how to use naloxone in order to safely give this type of injection.

3. Nasal Spray

The nasal spray is the easiest and most convenient method for anyone who has not been formally trained on how to use Narcan or is uncomfortable with needles. The nasal spray formula is intended to be quickly sprayed into the nostril of someone who has overdosed.

Regardless of which formulation you give someone, it’s important to note that more than one dose might be required, especially if the person has stopped breathing before the initial dosing. The effects of these drugs typically only last for 30 to 90 minutes, so you should keep a close watch after administering the first round of medication.

It’s also critical to read all of the package instructions and become familiar with how to use naloxone treatments beforehand so that you’re ready if an emergency happens.

How Should These Drugs Be Used?

You may still have questions like, “What is naloxone able to be used for?,” or, “Can these drugs be used for other types of overdoses?”

There are some cases where doctors will prescribe opioid antagonists like these alongside pain medications in order to lessen the risk of developing an addiction. However, the primary use of these drugs is to rapidly reverse a potentially fatal overdose until the person can receive proper medical care and recovery treatment.

If you live in an area with high levels of opioid abuse, or you know someone who is struggling with addiction, it can be helpful to keep doses of these drugs on hand. They are a short-term solution that can save a life and help to put an addict on the path of sobriety.

Learn How To Use Narcan To Save a Life

The opioid crisis isn’t likely to be resolved anytime soon, so it’s critical to arm yourself with knowledge. Becoming comfortable with how to use naloxone now will help you be able to act appropriately if you ever have to deal with a time-sensitive overdose situation.

Medication-Assisted Treatment

August 10, 2019 by c_ferry 3 Comments

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT), involves the use of certain FDA-approved medications to treat people with substance use disorders. The meds generally aren’t used on their own, but in conjunction with counseling and other traditional forms of addiction treatment.

Studies indicate that medication-assisted treatment is a safe and effective treatment for drug addiction and alcoholism, and may increase the chance of long-term recovery.

How Medications Help with Addiction

Thanks to scores of research studies conducted over the last few decades, we know that addiction is a chronic disease that makes very real changes in the brain. Like any chronic disease, addiction is treatable.

Similarly, we no longer believe that addicted people deserve a difficult withdrawal from drugs and alcohol, or that the miserable symptoms such as chills, sweating, cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, and anxiety are a necessary part of recovery. In fact, withdrawal makes getting clean more difficult.

SAMHSA (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), explains that medication-assisted therapy helps “normalize brain chemistry, block the euphoric effects of alcohol and opioids, relieve cravings, and normalize bodily functions without the negative effects of the abused drug.”

In simple terms, medications replace dangerous drugs with safer alternatives. By stopping cravings, MAT buys time for addicted people to concentrate on therapy and other treatments. Once drugs or alcohol clears the body, people can think more clearly and benefit from treatment.

People benefit from medication-assisted therapy in several ways. Most importantly, they are less likely to die from a fatal overdose, to be injured by violence or accidents, or to be involved in criminal activities. There is also evidence that MAT may decrease the risk of developing HIV and Hepatitis C.

In short, the overall quality of life is improved. People who stay in treatment longer have a better chance of long-term recovery and a reduced risk of relapse.

Commonly Used Medications

Several different medications are used to treat alcoholism and addiction to heroin and other opioid drugs. So far, no medications have been developed to treat addiction to cocaine, meth or marijuana, although medications may be prescribed to ease the symptoms of withdrawal.

The most commonly prescribed drugs for the treatment of addiction include the following:

Alcoholism

Disulfiram (Antabuse) is prescribed for people who have completed detox and have been free of alcohol for at least 12 hours. It is taken in pill form once every day. Disulfiram shouldn’t be used if a person is intoxicated, as even a very small amount of alcohol combined with disulfiram may result in headache, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and chest pains.

Naltrexone (Vivitrol, Revia), approved by the FDA for treatment of alcoholism in 2006, helps by reducing the urge to drink. A person who drinks alcohol while taking naltrexone won’t become sick, but they won’t experience the usual “high” or feeling of relaxation generally provided by alcohol.

Acamprosate (Campral), approved in 2004, is generally prescribed after five days of total abstinence. The medication is usually taken in pill form three times per day. It doesn’t prevent most withdrawal symptoms, and it doesn’t help people who continue to drink. It is useful for people who have managed to stop drinking but continue to struggle with cravings.

Opioids

Methadone is a well-known drug used as a treatment of opioid addiction for decades. It works by blocking the “high” produced by heroin and other opioid drugs, and also minimizes painful withdrawal symptoms. If used properly, it reduces cravings and helps people return to more normal lives. Methadone is tightly regulated and administered by specialized clinics.

Buprenorphine, approved for opioid addiction in 2002, is a weak type of opioid drug. It is intended to help people gradually get off drugs such as heroin and oxycodone by minimizing cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It is available in various forms, often in combination with Naloxone, and marketed by brand names such as Suboxone, Subutex, Butrans, and several others. Buprenorphine can be prescribed in a doctor’s office.

Naltrexone (Vivitrol) doesn’t decrease withdrawal symptoms but works by blocking the “high” produced by heroin and other opioid drugs. Naltrexone is prescribed after a person has stopped using opioid drugs for at least a week to ten days. Severe withdrawal symptoms may result if naltrexone is used while opioids are still in the system.

The Controversy: Replacing one Addiction with Another?

Although medication-assisted therapy is supported by the medical community, some people argue that medication only swaps one substance for another. Many claim that total abstinence is the only way to full recovery.

It’s true that the medications are powerful, and some, such as methadone and buprenorphine, are in the same drug family as heroin and morphine. It’s also true that some may present a risk of addiction. Some people continue to use the medication for months or even years.

On the other hand, proponents view medication-assisted treatment as a type of harm reduction. Abstinence is always the ultimate goal, but some people may never be completely drug-free.

When appropriately used, medication allows these people to reach the highest possible level of functioning, and to lead relatively normal lives with a reduced risk of dangerous results, including fatal overdose.

Is Medication-Assisted Treatment Right for You?

If you’re struggling with addiction to alcohol or opioid drugs, consider checking into a drug and alcohol treatment or rehab that specializes in medication-assisted treatment.

You can also talk to your doctor about MAT. If she isn’t willing to consider the idea, you may need to speak to another medical provider. Each of the medications mentioned above presents both benefits and risks. It’s critical that your medical provider understands how each drug works and how it can benefit you.

Medication-assisted treatment isn’t a magic cure or a quick fix. Getting off drugs and alcohol is a slow process that requires commitment and a lot of hard work. However, when used with standard treatment, MAT may significantly improve your quality of life and increase your chances of long-term success.

Boca Recovery Center and its Fleur-De-Lis

August 5, 2019 by c_ferry Leave a Comment

The Fleur-De-Lis is a badge with many meanings. Some recognize its original context as the dominant symbol of French royalty, and it’s often identified as the New Orleans Saints logo. Amidst countless categorizations of the Fleur De Lis, you may wonder why we at Boca Recovery Center would make this mark our official logo. As the founder of Boca Recovery Center, the Fleur-De-Lis holds more personal weight than that of a simple graphic. It’s a symbol I was surrounded by my entire life, preceding my addiction. To me, the Fleur-De-Lis signifies family, love, and perseverance.

Some of you may be aware of my festering passion for ice hockey, dating back to early youth. My father, a former competitor in the sport, chaperoned my brother and I into skates at age 9, and we both fell under the spell of the ice. I had a natural love for it, and from inception, I lived and breathed ice hockey. I looked up to my father in life and hockey, and I was going to follow in his footsteps.

When my brother and I were kids, we received word that an ECHL team, The Boardwalk Bullies, were dropping anchor for a game in Atlantic City. The ECHL, a minor league of professional ice hockey under the umbrella of the AHL and NHL, consists of hungry players with everything to prove in attempting to advance their careers (or forever remain in the minors) – and these games were especially gripping. My dad had season tickets, and we rarely missed a match.

One of the players for the Bullies was a French Canadian named Dan Lacroix. Dan had previously served as a fighter for the Philadelphia Flyers – an unofficial role in ice hockey that means exactly what it implies. My family and I had the opportunity to become friends with Dan and other players, and since I had resolute ambitions of a promising future in ice hockey, I asked my dad if I could train with Dan in Grandby, Quebec during Canadian summers.

To my relief, my dad agreed and Dan was thrilled to have me. Our families formed a tight bond, and I spent summers with Dan improving my skills – it was like my family grew larger. One summer, Dan came back to Atlantic City to visit my father and see the new house he had built. Dan propositioned the name “La Pals Royale” for our dwelling – French for the royal palace.

My dad got such a kick out of the grand embellishment that he infused the house from top to bottom with Fleur-De-Lis décor – he even went as far as to make customized napkins boasting the Fleur-De-Lis mingled with La Pals Royale. The house and that symbol both became a unifying emblem of love and togetherness, merging friends, families, and loved ones under one roof.

Summers in Quebec and training with Dan ceased to exist as I veered from my fixation on hockey to a dark, unforgiving hole of drugs and addiction. I walked away from my family, became surrounded by bad influences, and my dream of playing professional ice hockey fell from my fingertips. I abandoned the essence of the Fleur-De-Lis and lost sight of what was important – my family and my own aspirations.

In reinventing myself through years of sobriety and through the trials and tribulations of picking myself up off addiction’s floor, helping others became my new dream. I couldn’t play professional ice hockey any longer, but I wanted to be the guide for others and the hand that caught them before they fell too far from their goal. When I started the Boca Recovery Center 4 years ago, there was no symbol more fitting than The Fleur De Lis – the symbol of my hopes and dreams before addiction found me. It’s there to surround and protect those who have temporarily lost their way, to escort them back on the path to building their dreams.

Addiction is a three-part disease – it affects the mind, body, and spirit. The three segments of the Fleur-De-Lis addresses these three parts, and under the guidance of the Boca Recovery Center, we address your mind, body, and spirit, together with the power of family and with the power behind the Fleur-De-Lis.