What is Public Access Naloxone?
Modern life brings a different set of challenges to our society. Heroin is a terribly addictive drug that most of us know by name. But many drugs that we first meet as pain killers after dental work and outpatient surgeries have devastating potential for becoming addictive. These include:
- Codeine
- Fentanyl
- Hydrocodone
- Demerol
- Morphine
- Oxycodone
People of all ages may try to use these drugs recreationally or to fight pain of a chronic medical condition, only to find that they are horribly addictive.
As an addiction runs its course, addicts will find themselves taking larger and larger doses of opioids to satisfy their body's need - pushing their organs and vital systems to the edge of collapse. When a person ingests too much of an opioid their body goes into what is called "respiratory depression" -- essentially your body forgets how to breathe. Addicts may fall into a deep, deep sleep from which they never waken.
Over the past decade, Good Samaritans and especially law enforcement have been encountering people in the process of these overdoses in public bathrooms, in vehicles and in their homes. Fortunately, there is a drug that can reverse the effects of opioids, called Naloxone (commonly known by the brand name Narcan). If administered in a timely manner, Naloxone is a virtual "miracle" drug in its ability to prevent the loss of life.
Just as our society started to see the benefit of having AED defibrillators in public places in the 1980's and then Epinephrine for allergic reactions in the 2010's, there is now a nationwide movement to put Naloxone in public places so that Good Samaritans can respond to an opioid overdose incident quickly and effectively if an incident occurs.
Illinois Supply Company created the first public access Naloxone cabinet in 2014. We are proud to say that now thousands of Naloxone cabinets are in place across the United States.
Hang Naloxone Cabinets In Conspicuous Locations, Just Like You Would an AED Cabinet.
