The opioids that are used and abused are the same opioids that cancer patients use to treat pain. Because of this abuse, the cancer patients who truly need it are being underprescribed the medications that they need (Ray & Hoffman, 2018). These pains can come from cancer treatments, procedures, or from the cancer itself. If it has metastasized, the cancer can reach into different locations of the body causing even more pain. As one can see, there is a direct correlation between the opioid stigma and its consequences for cancer patients. has now been broadcast all over social media sites. The death of their loved one is not only devastating, but the circumstances surrounding the death are an embarrassment. Unfortunately for the family, this adds to their complicated grief. However, just as these rumors are spread before the breaking news on television, these widespread stories could serve as a warning to others of the dangers of opioids. The friends of the deceased read what happened, and this can serve as a cautionary tale.
Many individuals are reluctant to attend Narcotics Anonymous (NA) or treatment centers, as they feel others will compare and contrast their current addiction situation with others’ situations. They do not want to be judged or even feel as though they do not a problem. But by attending such centers, the opiate dependent is indicating that they have a problem, and that is the first step to recovery. Terms like “user,” “abuser,” “addict,” and “junkie” should be avoided. A better alternative is an “opiate dependent” or having a “substance abuse disorder.” Social media People no longer have to wait for the 5 o’clock news to receive information on what is going on in their community. Individuals now use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other sites to obtain instant knowledge. When someone dies of an overdose, the news can spread on social media like wildfire—and the rumors spread faster. Numerous speculations on why and how it happened can be posted online for all to see and can be read by the immediate family. Something that they wanted to be kept private
NALOXONE
According to the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2018): With any suspected opioid overdose where respiratory depression is found, treatment needs to be begun with antagonists like naloxone hydrochloride that can cross the blood brain barrier to reverse respiratory depression. Attention should be paid to differences in the half-life of the opioid and the antagonist used. Reversal of symptoms may be temporary as the short acting antagonist evacuates the receptor and frees it for the opioid to re-bind to it. 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; heat will inhibit its effectiveness. Additionally, it is vulnerable to light and can 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 a nonaddictive medication that rapidly reverses overdose symptoms and restores breathing (Conley- Keck, 2019). This product has become so popular that prescriptions have nearly doubled since 2017 (American Medical Association, 2018). It comes either as an intranasal spray that is used in the nares or as an injection via syringe that is introduced in the larger muscles of the body such as the deltoid, biceps femoris, or gluteus maximus. Once naloxone is administered to the victim, it dislodges the opioid molecules from the brain’s receptors and in turn binds to the same receptor to block that opioid (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018). This is because naloxone has a stronger affinity to the opioid receptors than to the opioid itself. These receptors control breathing, and this action temporary restores respiratory function (Illinois Department of Public Health, 2019). After 30 to 90 minutes, the naloxone molecules wear down, and the opioids then reattach to the receptors and breathing begins to decrease once again, potentially causing a secondary respiratory depression leading to anoxia. Because of this short duration of effectiveness, it is imperative to contact first responders or as soon as naloxone is administered.
ACCOUNTABILITY
The result is now the fear of prosecution overrides the assistance needed to save a life. As 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 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 opioid dependent. If there is a highly contaminated batch of heroin and 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 manufactures, the pharmaceutical companies, or the physicians to be held accountable.
Following state and county governing laws, prosecutors often indict and charge family, friends, and fellow opioid dependents 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 him 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.
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Book Code: FNJ0524
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