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"I Am The Evidence" Florida's Opioid Overdose Prevention Act SB 758 Can Save Lives


Overview

Originally Published: 02/27/2015

Post Date: 02/28/2015

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by Julia Negron


Summary/Abstract

Support Florida Senate Bill 0758.

Opioid overdose can occur, accidentally, from medical use of prescription opioid pain relievers, non-medical use of prescription opioids, and heroin use. In 2013, over 1,900 Floridians died with at least one prescription drug listed as a cause of death, and the majority involved opioids. Heroin deaths in Florida increased by nearly 80% from 2012 to 2013.

Fatal drug overdose has increased more than six-fold in the past four decades, and now claims the lives of over 36,000 Americans every year. The epidemic is largely driven by Heroin and prescription opioids. Opioid overdose is typically reversible through the timely administration of the medication naloxone and the provision of emergency care. However, access to naloxone and other emergency treatment is often limited by laws and regulations and that pre-date the overdose epidemic.

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Back in the 70s my life was saved by Naloxone.  It may have been twice, I can't be really sure because I don't remember - after all I was in an overdose from using injection heroin.

The years went by and I didn't think much about that crossroads moment in my life; that is not until the same addictive illness gripped my son - even a mother with 30 years of recovery and decades working as a treatment professional can get hit it seems.  Even a kid that grew up in meetings and hearing his parent’s stories of redemption and recovery can end up in a dark place all his own. 

A mother's greatest fear is losing a child and it's in this framework that I started to become attracted to the work of advocates doing overdose prevention.  It was a fairly new thing in LA in 2007 and we formed a task force and started first with a pilot program and then in short time moved on to naloxone access legislation.   

So I was one of the first moms I know to have a naloxone kit in my medicine cabinet.  My son continued his roller coaster ride of recovery, relapse, recovery, but all the while I felt just a tiny bit empowered in this situation that usually makes families feel like chaos with no light at the end of the tunnel.  With life there is always hope. 

Learning how to recognize and reverse an overdose was a quick learn.  Having a naloxone kit gave me the power to save a life, God forbid I needed to.  It felt good, one less worry in a world of a million worries. 

Overdoses have bypassed car accidents as the #1 cause of accidental death.  This should get a mother's attention.  It continues to get mine.  I love being able to give other mothers I know a little tool, just one little tool that could have the potential to turn tragedy into hope and the promise of a second chance.  One little tool in the fight to reverse the epidemic of death that have cost us more than 7 lives a day in Florida. 

Fatal drug poisonings  have increased more than six-fold in the past three decades, and now claims the lives of over 43,000 Americans every year. Naloxone can save a life in the precious minutes awaiting arrival of emergency medical services.  There's no way I would be calm waiting after a call to 911 - there is something you can do. 

 Naloxone, brand name Narcan ®, has only one job; to reverse an opioid overdose.  Naloxone was approved by the FDA in 1971 and has been used safely for over forty years by paramedics and emergency rooms (remember my 70s experience?)  But time is of the essence when overdose occurs, so mothers really want all EMTs, law enforcement officers, caregivers and family members to have this life-saver.  After all, half of all overdoses happen at home.  

As for me, with 30 years of sobriety under my belt (and 8 grandkids to model for), I became an advocate.  Now I think all the time about when my life was saved and how it made all the difference that I was given a second chance.  I am the head of a large happy family and have watched them all grow - a gift, a blessing - and I could have missed it all.    Support Florida SB 758

 

Julia Negron is a Certified Addiction Specialist, and founder of The Suncoast Harm Reduction Project of Sarasota FL., a project of A New PATH. She is a PATH Board member and serves on the steering committee of Moms United to End the War on Drugs.


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