Narcan To The Rescue

Where is Nancy Reagan when you need her? Interesting to note that Narcan has been approved for over-the-counter sales at pharmacies. According to the Wall Street Journal, Emergent Biosolutions is the first company to obtain approval to sell a nasal spray version of Naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal medication, without a prescription. It appears that we have moved on from “just say no” to “make sure you have your Narcan.”  What could go wrong?  Will Narcan’s ready availability become a security blanket of sorts, lulling drug users into a false sense of security that they can use opioids with impunity or perhaps increase the dose to dangerous levels under the assumption that someone will be on hand to administer the antidote?  And isn’t it strange, in a world where recreational pharmaceuticals are being tainted with lethal amounts of fentanyl, that we choose to prioritize the message that you can be rescued by another drug rather than avoiding using the drug that got you into this mess in the first place. How often have we heard the sob story that the victim succumbed to fentanyl overdose while using cocaine, heroin, or “oxy,” but never does anyone condemn the use of the drug that was the vehicle for the fentanyl?  I recall an interview in which the father railed against the proliferation of fentanyl, having lost his son to an overdose. Apparently, the son had an injury and, rather than seek the advice of a physician, he chose to score some oxycodone on the street, which was laced with fentanyl. I’m sorry for your loss, but how preposterous is it that your son chose a street pusher over a medical professional? There’s only one reason why you would do that. The use of pharmaceuticals for recreational use continues to plague America. The legalization of marijuana hasn’t helped. Studies show permanent alteration of brain chemistry, particularly in young users, and anyone who denies it is a gateway drug is lying to you. The fault lies not with the drug, rather with America’s insatiable appetite for getting high.