Many manufactures 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 Action in Illinois Illinois has become an advocate for educating and promoting needs for the opiate dependent. 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 made readily available and distributed to those who need it (Rowland, 2019). The program, Illinois Public Act 099-0480 (HB1), allows 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
continual rise in deaths (Pearl, 2018). Today, that shift has changed. The education provided to physicians is not about the potential profits the more they write the scripts; rather, it focuses on other alternatives such as non-opioid 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 afraid to call emergency personnel in fear of being taken into custody. Lastly, 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 at work, and parents whose child has overdosed in her bedroom. Though the criminal liability is relieved, a person is liable if one does nothing to help an overdose victim. Again, these laws are in Illinois, so it is important that funeral directors check the laws in their state.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
selection of day and time, service location, who will be officiating, and the casket and vault selection. Laying it out beforehand gives everyone an idea of what to expect. With most unexpected opioid deaths, there is a postmortem examination (autopsy). This can potentially postpone the visitation and funeral. In choosing the day of the service, it is advisable to inform the family of this circumstance and that they may need to work around it. Furthermore, because of the overdose, the deceased may not be found for a couple of days or may be found face down. If not found for many days, and depending on the circumstances, there will be decomposition that could not only affect the embalming operation but also prohibit an open casket. Someone who was found face down could develop livor mortis (hypostasis), where the blood pools to the most dependent part of the body. In this case, it develops into a dark staining of the face. During the funeral arrangement, it would be wise and less confusing if the funeral director were to inform the family that he cannot promise an open casket until he has actually seen the deceased. The funeral director should inform the family that he will make the decision once he observes the condition. Another issue will be the finalized death certificate from the coroner or medical examiner. The funeral director should discuss with the family that because of the circumstances of death, there will most likely be a temporary death certificate. This prolongs the filing of life insurance and other important paperwork. Depending on which county where it is filed, the waiting period can be two weeks to six months. ashamed and anxious would be an understatement. During the visitation, the funeral director needs to be vigilant for potential arguments or fighting between family members and the friends of the deceased. This is displacement aggression toward the friends, as the immediate family may have decided that the friends could have done more or interceded to help their loved one.
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 this is not directed toward the funeral director. This is displacement aggression: when someone is aggressive toward someone 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 times, the death was expected because of advanced age, illness, or cancer. 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 accident: there is no preparation on behalf of the family. During the initial funeral arrangements, the family experiences complicated grief. There will be shock and confusion among the family. This is not the time for the funeral director to rush into the arranging the day of service or discussing the selection of a casket. This is the time to offer condolences and ask if family members have any questions. The funeral director needs to listen to the family and answer questions clearly and make sure everyone attends before making the arrangements. It will help to advise the family of the agenda before beginning: vitals for the death certificate, cremation or traditional service, Visitation and services We are now going to discuss the visitation and funeral ceremony for someone who has died of an overdose. As noted previously, there usually is a stigma surrounding this particular kind of death. Usually most people are curious about the circumstances of how someone died. They are not only grieving the loss of their loved one but also trying to continue to honor their loved one by combatting rumors and the small talk during the visitation. To say the family is
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Book Code: FNJ0524
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