Narcan offers second chances and should be used often
This guy says to me.
“I’m sick of this Narcan (Naloxone) crap. It’s only giving people another chance to kill themselves. If I ever said that, people would crucify me. If they want to die...”
Naloxone, marketed under the brandname Narcan among others, is a medication used to block the effects of opioids, especially in overdose.
Many people have been returned from the brink of death either by Narcan nasal spray or an injection.
Thank God. Right? Second chances? You bet. Third, fourth or fifth? Yes, oh God, yes.
Real, sustained recovery may need numerous starts and relapses before the miracle occurs.
The Drug Policy Alliance notes that “the majority of overdose victims do not actually die until one to three hours after they have taken a drug, and most of these deaths occur in the presence of others.
“This leaves a significant amount of time for witnesses to intervene and call for medical help. In addition to calling 911 for help, witnesses to opiate overdoses can administer the opioid overdose antidote, naloxone.”
Not to mention that many overdoses are accidental. Some deaths occur after purchases of dangerous batches of heroin. And other overdoses connect to taking an abundant amount of prescription drugs such as oxycodone.
A young family member needed a shot of Narcan to be brought back to this land of the living, despite revelations that he hates this world.
His frustration resonates when people inspect Earth, jam-packed with eight billion residents, heating up with climate change, swirling with conflict, infected by disease, stretched apart by racial angst, etc.
Earth exists exactly as music group The Temptations described with their “Ball of Confusion” release.
Naloxone serves a purpose of offering one more opportunity to understand love of self, of others, of pets.
Just one moment of clarity can change perspective, can make all the difference in the world.
When possible, stay out of the world. Reduce your living conditions to a garden, friend, music, art, a baby. The world will always exist as a mess.
To all people who struggle with addiction and recovery, families who face the frustration of addiction or the loss of a loved one from this disease, may love find you.
Love is good. God is love. God is good.
(All of the time)
L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Reach him at laparker@trentonian.com. Follow him on Twitter@laparker6.