Apr 15, 2019
Vito (@papaviitz ) joins
me to discuss the opioid crisis in North America. We cover
the history of opioid use in our culture, both medically and
recreationally. This includes the factors that caused this epidemic
to get worse over the last 30 years. The complexity of
addiction and how opioids work on the brain are also discussed to
help educate those who are curious. This includes how to recognize
and respond to an overdose, using naloxone/narcan.
Overdose and suicide are the leading causes of death in North
America, higher than car accidents and heart disease. Opioid
overdoses are on the rise due to many complex factors, such as
over-prescription of pharmaceutical painkillers and synthetic
versions being laced into street heroin. In the 1960s 80% of
heroin users started with heroin. In 2019, 80% of heroin
users started because of a prescription painkiller.
Therefore, physicians are now limited in prescribing painkillers in
Canada and many states.
*When opioids overwhelm the receptors in the brain, they suppress the central nervous system. They can fully lose consciousness, pupils may constrict to pinpoint size, breathing stops or becomes ineffective, the skin goes very pale or blue/purple. This will lead to death if it is not reversed immediately!
Play video of opioid overdose: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL4-Umip_Cc
Overdose First-Aid
Signs/symptoms of an overdose:
-Blue/purple colour around face and lips
-gurgling or loud snoring sounds
-Unresponsive to shouting and shaking or aggressively rubbing sternum with knuckles
-Ineffective breathing or not breathing at all
First-Aid:
If there is no improvement after 2-3 minutes, repeat steps 3 and 4. Stay with them.
If the person begins breathing on their own, or if you have to leave them on their own, put them in the recovery position. There is a high chance of vomiting and withdrawal, monitor ABCs.
*Healthcare Providers (HCP): Airway management and ventilation by Bag Valve Mask with oxygen; only beginning chest compressions if NO pulse!
The “Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act” provides some legal protection for people who experience or witness an overdose and call 9-1-1 for help:
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Instagram:
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Facebook Community Group:
The Psychedelic Society of First Responders and Emergency Workers
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This podcast covers many topics considered “taboo” or difficult for some individuals. We do not condone any illegal activities, as this is a platform for harm reduction and open dialogue.