Implement OEND plan to save drug overdose victims: Experts

PK Jaiswar

Advertisement

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 3

There is need for effective implementation of opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) programme in order to save the precious lives snuffed out from drug overdose which are being reported in various parts of Punjab and in the country at regular intervals.

Though in several developed countries naloxone dispensing programme has been successful in minimising the mortality associated with opioid overdose, it is irony that it is not yet implemented in even tertiary healthcare centres, said experts.

Much emphasis is being given for using brutal force to impose laws in order to shatter the drug cartel network even as the government was battling with proper infrastructure to address the health issues of drug abusers.

Noted de-addiction specialist Dr Jaswinder Gandhi pointed out that in addition to aware the people about the medical, social and economical dimensions of the drug abuse, the government should also make it a part of the programme on how one can save a patient with the symptoms of drug overdose.

“We need no specialisation or emergency set up to save a drug addict,” he pointed out while adding that the patient generally died due to respiratory failure. He said by simply administering naloxone injection the chances of survival of the patient increases. The injection is easily available in the market, he added.

He said, “Different studies have revealed that drug overdose victim dies due to respiratory failure. Naloxone, a pure opioid antagonist, is very safe, reliable, cheap, easily available and fast acting drug. Naloxone causes reversal of sedation and respiratory depression associated with opioid overdose within minutes and it has no side effects of its own even in higher doses.”

Dr PD Garg, former head of psychiatry department, government medical college, said that it was the need of the hour. “Physicians treating the patients can play a major role in reducing the mortality only by educating them (the patients) and their family members and advising them administer naloxone in case of drug overdose symptoms,” Dr Garg said.

He said the cases of drug ovedose were coming up very fast with the awareness among the people. But the people do not know what to do in such cases. He said, “The drug addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder where the patient can relapse anytime and that is when the chances of drug overdose is higher.”