On Monday, Trump announced the Initiative to Stop Opioid Abuse and Reduce Drug Supply and Demand, a program whose main components aim to address the driving forces of the opioid crisis: Reduce demand and over-prescribing of opioids, cut off the supply of illicit drugs, and help those struggling with addiction.
Here’s what you need to know:
What is Narcan/naloxone?
One of the goals of the program is to ensure first responders are supplied with naloxone, commonly known by one of the brands named Narcan. Naloxone is a medication that quickly reverses an opioid overdose.
Opioid drugs such as heroin or prescription pain medications bind to brain receptors; in an overdose, the severe opioid effect slows breathing so much that death follows. Naloxone acts by competing with the opioid for those brain receptors, binding them and displacing the opioid. It will not stop overdoses from other kinds of drugs.
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Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesIn this photo illustration, a package of NARCAN (Naloxone) nasal spray sits on the counter at a Walgreens pharmacy, Aug. 9, 2017, in New York City.
Who should get naloxone?
Anyone suspected or known to have an opioid overdose should be treated with naloxone. An opioid overdose is life-threatening because people can become unresponsive, breathe slowly or stop breathing altogether. If a person is not breathing, it will not hurt them to get naloxone.
Alex Wroblewski/The New York Times/ReduxNarcan, an antidote for a heroin overdose, Aug. 11, 2016, in New York.
How is naloxone given?
Naloxone is given in three ways: intravenously, injected into the muscle (think: an EpiPen style delivery) or a nasal spray. Individuals trained to administer naloxone can carry and give naloxone to a person having an overdose.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
