Just last week, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a public health advisory, recommending that Americans keep naloxone - or Narcan - readily available in their homes for drug overdose victims. One local advocate for the overdose antidote said the announcement should make Americans sit up and take notice.
"I think we should pause for a moment and really think about that," said Deb Bailey, Executive Director of Government Affairs for Northeast Georgia Health System. "In 13 years, we have not had any public health issue that's as significant and overwhelming as this problem. The fact that he [Dr. Jerome Adams] has had to do this, I hope brings the fact that we are in the middle of an opioid crisis in the United States to everyone's attention."
Federal data indicates more than 42,000 Americans suffered fatal opioid overdoses in 2016.
"In the United States someone dies every 12 and a half minutes from an overdose and there are many, many more who have an overdose and don't die - this is a huge problem in the United States," Bailey said.
Bailey said in 2017, the Gainesville and Braselton campuses of Northeast Georgia Medical Center handled more than 700 overdose cases. She said the hospital is on track for the same number this year.
Adams issued his advisory in Atlanta on Thursday at the National Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit, calling on those who are at risk of overdose - as well as their friends and family members - to keep the overdose antidote on hand and learn how to use it.
Bailey said using Narcan is not difficult and it is lifesaving.
"What we know is that Narcan will immediately reverse an overdose," Bailey said. "I think we have to consider it like the new CPR or the EpiPen or the tourniquet in the field...this is a nasal product and basically all you do is put the nasal cannula in the person's nose and spray the spray. It's very, very simple to use."
She pointed out that Partnership for Drug Free Hall has a video on its website that shows people how to use Narcan in an emergency situation.
In addition, Bailey said Narcan is available without a prescription in Georgia, making it easy to purchase and keep at home.
"What we know is most overdoses occur in our homes or in our communities - not in a hospital setting," Bailey said.
Bailey said the cost for a kit of two doses of Narcan is about $100, but she said advocates continue to look for ways to provide Narcan to the community at discount prices.
Some political opponents to Adams' advisory last week said Narcan doesn't treat addiction and simply offers a safety net for addicts. Bailey acknowledges the antidote is not a treatment, but she said making it more available is essential to fighting the epidemic.
"It's not a treatment, but it saves the life to provide an opportunity for that person to have a path to a full recovery," Bailey said. "So, yes, we're doing everything we possibly can in our community to get the word out that this drug saves a life."
