deactivate if left in direct sunlight. The prime locations for naloxone kits are in the preparation room for the exposed embalmer with an additional kit in close proximity to the funeral chapel for the overdose of a mourner. All funeral home staff should be trained in naloxone administration and know where the kits are located.
Naloxone is as dangerous as water and has no abuse potential. Therefore, it is impossible to cause more damage than what has already been done by the opiate- dependent user. Naloxone is heat sensitive, so it should not be left in the removal vehicle because heat will inhibit its effectiveness. Additionally, it is vulnerable to light and can
ACCOUNTABILITY
group of individuals who is using and someone overdoses and actually dies. In a panic, the group decides to hide the body or stages some type of accident. The group decides this is the best measure for the worst circumstance because, in this case, they would all be charged with murder. Many states have enacted laws that hold the dealer accountable for the actions of the person who uses the opioids. If there is a highly contaminated batch of heroin or heroin laced with fentanyl, and the person overdoses, for example, the dealer is charged with murder. So who exactly should be held accountable for the deaths? Some grieving families want the drug manufacturers, the pharmaceutical companies, or the physicians to be held accountable. Many drug manufacturers saw an opportunity to exploit the drug market. They held seminars to educate physicians on the safety of pain medications, claiming that if someone was truly in pain, addiction and overdosing would not be an issue. The result is a continual rise in profits and a continual rise in deaths (Pearl, 2018). Today, however, the education provided to physicians is not about the potential profits the more they write prescriptions; rather, it focuses on other alternatives such as nonopioid medications and physical therapy. overdose and gives amnesty if the user has no more than 3 grams of heroin, no more than 3 grams of morphine, or no more than 40 grams of prescription opioids (Illinois Department of Public Health, 2019). This law covers the possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, and cocaine. This way, individuals are not hesitant to call emergency personnel because they fear being taken into custody. Finally, the Illinois Drug Overdose Prevention Program Law (PA 096-0361, 2010) allows nonmedical professionals— including family, friends, and other community members—to administer naloxone to prevent a fatal opioid overdose without risking civil or criminal liability (Illinois Department of Public Health, 2019). Now naloxone can be administered by school nurses, coworkers, and parents whose child has overdosed in their bedroom. Though the criminal liability is relieved, a person is liable if they do nothing to help an overdose victim. Again, these laws are in Illinois, so it is important for funeral directors to check the laws in their state.
Following state and county laws, prosecutors often indict and charge family, friends, and fellow users of opioids with the homicide of the overdose victim. There have been many cases where a group of individuals uses prescription or illicit drugs and someone overdoses. With the prospect of being charged with felony drug possession, they will either leave the victim or drop them off at the front entrance of a hospital and drive away. Not wanting to be held accountable for the other person’s actions and making sure they get the treatment needed to survive, they leave. As Sullum (2018) suggested: “That arbitrary outcome encapsulates the senseless cruelty of a strategy that in recent years has gained favor among prosecutors across the country: treating opioid- related deaths as homicides, regardless of intent. The resulting prosecutions not only are manifestly unjust but could make fatal overdoses more likely by discouraging bystanders from seeking help.” The result is now the fear of prosecution overrides the assistance needed to save a life. For example, an Illinois woman was charged with murder because her husband took heroin that she had bought for him and called 911 when he overdosed (Sullum, 2018). The most extreme example is covering up the death. Take, for instance, a Action in Illinois Illinois has become an advocate for educating and promoting needs for people who are dependent on opioids. With $82 million in federal funding, Illinois became proactive in creating programs for prevention and treatment to combat the opioid epidemic (Rowland, 2019). Some of the money was set aside for the Illinois Department of Human Services to create more programs to expand treatments at hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and county jails. Even more funding was used to create a program to make sure naloxone, the drug that reverses an overdose, is readily available and distributed to those who need it (Rowland, 2019). The program, facilitated by Illinois Public Act 099-0480 (HB1), allows the distribution of naloxone statewide and encourages trainings (Illinois Department of Public Health, 2019). Trainers from Illinois county health departments hold seminars and train family members, friends, and even the opiate dependent individual on how to administer the life-saving drug naloxone. The Good Samaritan Law was considered as well. The Good Samaritan Law offers protection for persons reporting an
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
another illness. Of course, this does not ease the pain of the loss. But in these particular circumstances, the family can at least prepare for the transition from life to death. In other words, there is grieving while the person is alive. In the case of opioid overdose, the death is usually sudden. It is like a fatal car crash—there is no preparation by the family. During the initial funeral arrangements, the family experiences complicated grief. There will be shock and confusion among the family members. This is not the time for the funeral director to rush into arranging the service or discussing the selection of a casket. This is the time to offer condolences and ask if family members have any
The funeral director is usually the first person who is not a family member or friend to discuss the death of a loved one. It is common for family members to take their frustrations out on the funeral director. The funeral director should not take this personally, as these frustrations are not directed toward them. This is displaced aggression, which occurs when one person is aggressive toward another individual who has nothing to do with the initial conflict. Making funeral arrangements for any loved one can be tough on those left behind. Most individuals encounter these experiences only a few times in their life. Often, the death was expected because of advanced age, cancer, or
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Book Code: FFL1225
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