BattlingtheOpioidEpidemic–AMedicalStudent’sPerspective

JosephB.Parker&EmilyGansert

At night, emergency departments across the country are filled with persons suffering the adverse effects of drug abuse or actively experiencing an overdose. Unfortunately, these patients have become little more than routine, especially in America’s urban healthcare facilities.According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2020 alone, more than 93,000 individuals died from drug overdoses—an increase of over 30% from the prior year. Three-quarters of these deaths were due to opioid overdose, rather than from prescription medicationsoralcohol.Itisspeculatedthatthis increase is an effect of the isolation and stress that many endured throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this figure serves to highlightanequallygrimtruth:theresourcesto treat substance abuse disorder patients are simply not there. Because of this paucity, preventable deaths from a treatable disease take the lives of tens of thousands of Americanseachyear.

During the year and a half that Joseph worked in an emergency department, he saw many complex patients, but there was one who particularly affected him. Upon arrival at the ER one day, Joseph came face-to-face with a patient on the brink of death. This young woman was progressing through an overdose on opioids before his eyes, with her chest remaining frozen still and the color drained fromherface.

lifesaving power of Narcan.As the following hours ticked by, the young woman whose death he had nearly witnessed slowly recovered and was back on herfeetbeforethedaywasover.

Months later, and without another visit from this patient, it was discovered that she was homeless. Despite her trying circumstances, she had sought rehabilitation and, with time, was able to overcome her addiction. Joseph’s account provides just one tale among many as to why education about addiction and increasing the use and availability of Narcan is necessary if we are to provide substance use disorder patients the chance at life they deserve. Truly, this medication has the power to keep familieswhole,livesintact,andgravesempty.

Within minutes of his first visitation, this patient was given the lifesaving medication Narcan, and immediately regained consciousness and the ability to breathe. In this singledramaticepisode,Josephlearnedofthe

Through various social and medical measures, patients like this one could also overcome their addictiontoopioids.Onewaytohelpthosefighting addiction is to increase the availability of Narcan and to take a community-based approach to fight opioid addiction. A study in Pittsburgh performed by Dotson et. al (2018) implemented several social interventions in the interest of discovering which were most effective at reducing the mortality of opioid overdoses. The study found that increasing the distribution of Narcan in pharmacies and allowing it to be dispensed without a prescription, in conjunction with bystander training on recognizing the signs of opioid overdose and the use of Narcan, significantly reduced opioid overdose deaths. This model is both applicable and readily implemented in many other communities in this country and could serve as a model across the state of Florida. Emily and Joseph are active in several student organizations that are working toward expanding the availability of Naloxone with the hope to save numerous lives across the state of Florida.

Paul M. Graham, M.D.