Overdose reversing Naloxone has been approved for over the counter distribution at local Walgreens. While availability marks a step in the right direction, more work is needed.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, December 15, 2016 (Newswire.com) - More than a year ago, Narconon Louisiana began a campaign to spearhead awareness for the use of Naloxone, a drug used to reverse an overdose. With the newest legislation change, access to the drug is possible over the counter in local Walgreens stores.
Over the course of the year, during its campaign to spread awareness, Narconon attended several events and released a free resource assisting individuals nationwide to gain access to naloxone. The use of Naloxone is part of a controversial approach to drug and alcohol treatment known as harm reduction.
Through the years of working with addicts, I have heard countless times of loved ones lost to opiate overdose. Now Naloxone gives an addict a chance of surviving and getting treatment.
David Judice, Executive Director
Those who support harm reduction believe that reducing health and mortality risks to addicts should be the focus of addiction treatment. This approach is associated with needle exchanges, along with other approaches to mitigate the harmful effects to drug addicts. Due to its relation to needle exchanges and maintenance drugs, there has been concern that these methods can perpetuate addiction by providing less risk to addicts.
Naloxone however has never shown any evidence of perpetuating this cycle as it does not make an overdose more comfortable for the addict but simply reverses it and prevents death. In fact, many overdose victims experience withdrawal symptoms and note the overdose reversal as a very painful experience.
According to David Judice, Executive Director of Narconon New Life Retreat ,” Through the years of working with addicts, I have heard countless times of loved ones lost to opiate overdose. Now Naloxone gives an addict a chance of surviving and getting treatment.”
In order to combat the experiences both addicts and their families experience due to drug addiction, Narconon provides drug education with the emphasis on teaching those related to addicts how to assist them into treatment. Narconon also works with youth in local communities to prevent the continued growth of drug abuse throughout the country. While Naloxone may prevent an overdose death, drug education has been found to be one of the most effective methods in stopping addiction before it begins.
Narconon Louisiana was founded in 2006 following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in an effort to help the thousands of residents affected by addiction who had no available treatment facilities. Located on approximately 15 wooded acres in Denham Springs, it is a non-profit alcohol and drug rehabilitation center licensed by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. The Narconon drug rehabilitation and education program was founded in 1966 by William Benitez and uses the drug-free rehabilitation and social education methodology based on research developed by American author and humanitarian, L. Ron Hubbard. They are dedicated to eliminating alcohol and addiction through drug prevention education and rehabilitation.
For more information on Naloxone and to read the resource guide, follow the link below.
http://www.narcononnewliferetreat.org/blog/naloxone-availability.html
Source: Narconon Louisiana
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