In the face of the worst pandemic in U.S. history, a local university is taking a step toward a local solution.
The University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth is leading the charge in promoting opioid and fentanyl awareness and prevention with the launch of its own One Pill Kills campaign.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced in April the state’s $10 million One Pill Kills campaign, which includes distributing Narcan to every county in the state.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid considered to be exponentially more addictive than heroin, is now the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 49. Ingestion of even a tiny amount, small enough to fit in a pencil eraser, can be fatal.
UNTHSC efforts include several events related to opioids and addiction. SaferCare Texas, the university’s patient safety division, will be holding a meeting on Oct. 12 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in rooms 109-111 of the HSC Medical Education and Training Building, 1000 Montgomery Street. Host a free “Conquering Opioids: Awareness and Prevention” event.
The event will include training on how to use the life-saving drug Narcan to reverse overdoses and a keynote address by Dr. Scott Walters, a professor at the School of Public Health and a nationally recognized opioid expert. . Also included is We Are Our Brothers Keeper founder Jessica Castro’s personal account of losing her son to an overdose, as well as an opportunity for participants to anonymously share their experiences with opioids and addiction. It will also include a digital reflection session that can be shared.
The free event is open to the public, but registration is required.
“This initiative marks a difference for SaferCare Texas and HSC,” said Dr. Teresa Wagner, SaferCare Interim Director. “Now is the time to take action and equip our community with the skills and knowledge to save lives. I couldn’t be more proud of our campus for coming together in such an important campaign.”
The HSC School of Biomedical Sciences will also welcome two addiction expert speakers in October as part of the Pharmacology and Neuroscience Research Seminar Series.
On Oct. 17 at 11 a.m., Dr. Thomas Costen of Baylor College of Medicine will give a virtual lecture on “Anti-Addiction Vaccines for Fentanyl and Cocaine.” “Chronic Methamphetamine Administration Produces Cognitive Impairments Through Enhancement of GABAergic Synaptic Transmission in the Prefrontal Cortex,” said Dr. Antonieta Rabin of the Medical University of South Carolina at 11 a.m. on Oct. 24 in Room 524 of the Everett Educational Administration Building at HSC. gives a lecture.
Both events are free and open to the public, and neither requires registration.
UNTHSC has created a website with helpful resources for people who are struggling with addiction, know someone with addiction, or know someone who wants to get involved in prevention. There is also a list of his HSC leaders and faculty experts who have published research related to opioids, addiction, or related topics. Opioid-related articles written about campus officials. and a toolkit containing media assets for other organizations wishing to replicate HSC’s campaigns.
What is Narcan?
According to the manufacturer, “Narcan Nasal Spray is a prescription drug used to treat emergencies of known or suspected opioid overdose with symptoms of breathing problems, severe drowsiness, or signs of inability to respond.”
The active ingredient in Narcan is naloxone hydrochloride. Narcan is the brand name for a device that delivers naloxone to the nasal cavity.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, naloxone is an FDA-approved opioid antagonist used to reverse opioid overdoses. SAMHSA said it is important to seek medical intervention as soon as possible after administering or administering naloxone because naloxone is a temporary treatment and its effects do not last long.
The Dallas Morning New’s Marin Wolf spoke to NBC 5 about lifesaving training.
What is naloxone?
Naloxone is a drug that can quickly reverse an opioid overdose by binding to opioid receptors and reversing or blocking the effects of opioids, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse at the National Institutes of Health.
“If breathing slows or stops due to an opioid overdose, naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing. However, naloxone has no effect on people who don’t have opioids in their system, and they are suffering from opioid use disorder. Examples of opioids include heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), codeine, and morphine.
Naloxone comes in two FDA-approved forms: an injectable solution and a nasal spray.
Naloxone is effective for only 30 to 90 minutes, but many opioids remain in the body for much longer. Because it is possible to experience the effects of an overdose even after the naloxone dose wears off, it is imperative that the person call 911 or seek medical attention as soon as possible after administering the dose.
On March 29, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved naloxone for sale without a prescription, putting the drug on track to become the first over-the-counter opioid treatment.
Does FDA approval mean I can buy it at CVS or WALGREENS?
yes. The company says Narcan will be available over-the-counter at pharmacies by the end of summer.
Other brands of naloxone and injectables are not yet available over the counter, but may be available soon.
Harm Reduction Therapeutics, a nonprofit organization funded by OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, has applied to the FDA to distribute its version of spray naloxone without a prescription.
Once the drug is available over-the-counter, it will also be available in non-pharmacy locations such as convenience stores and supermarkets, as well as online retailers.