What Does Narcan Do for People With Addictions?

You’ve heard the name Narcan in the news lately and wonder what does Narcan do? This confusion is understandable. However, you need to understand this product if you or someone you love has an opiate addiction. Thankfully, an opiate addiction rehab center in Jacksonville, FL, should have this care option.

What is Narcan?

When figuring out the questions, “What is Narcan?” and, “What does Narcan do?’ you must understand its design. Narcan is the brand name for naloxone HC1. This product is designed to reverse opiate overdoses and save lives. As a result, a growing number of medical providers utilize this care option. Many police stations and jails have Narcan to save the lives of overdosing prisoners.

While the use of this product is still controversial in some areas, many administrative bodies understand its usefulness. For example, some harsh critics may claim that the life of an overdosing opiate addict is not worth saving. This cruel idea ignores the addiction rates of opiate painkillers. For example, you may be addicted to opiate painkillers after an operation. You may overdose if you don’t get help. With Narcan, you can stay alive long enough to get treatment.

What Does Narcan Do?

Narcan is an opioid antagonist. This classification indicates that it attaches to opioid receptors when administered. After it attaches to these receptors, it reverses and blocks opioid effects. These reactions occur even if a person is currently using opioids. As a result, an overdose will gradually reverse. The speed of this reversal will vary. High doses can almost instantly stop an overdose. And Narcan works on many different opioids. For example, it can help with overdoses of:

• Heroin
• Morphine
• Opium
• Fentanyl
• OxyContin
• Vicodin
• Codeine

Most doses of Narcan are injected. Most generic brands are used in this way. As a result, many heroin addiction treatment centers have these injectable options. Unfortunately, using these Narcan tools can be a challenge for some people because you need to avoid breaking the needle. As a result, auto-injection options may be more useful. These automatically inject the Narcan, making them an excellent choice for those without medical training. However, nasal sprays are also available for those who don’t want injections.

So what does Narcan do? To put it bluntly, it saves lives. This life-saving benefit has made Narcan increasingly popular in many medical facilities. Make sure to talk to your doctor about this medicine before using it. In most states, you need a prescription to get Narcan. You must also use Narcan carefully because you may trigger withdrawal symptoms with improper use.

When Should Narcan Be Used?

When figuring out, “What does Narcan do?” you must know when to use it. Typically, you need to wait until someone overdoses. That said, using it at any other time will reverse the effects of opiates but may trigger painful withdrawal. As a result, you should watch for symptoms of opiate overdoses before administering it. These include signs like:

• Shallow breathing – Opiates slow down breathing rates and overdoses may nearly stop respiration
• Nausea or vomiting – Excessive opiate use almost always causes vomiting
• Heart problems – The heart often slows down massively during an opiate overdose
• Limp limbs – Many people lose control of their limbs during an overdose
• Pale skin – Overdoses often cause extreme paleness due to blood flow issues
• Purple fingernails – A lack of blood flow often causes purple nails

If you have to use Narcan for yourself or anyone else, you may want to consider addiction rehabilitation. This treatment option can save lives. First of all, you will detox from any dangerous opiates. Then, you will get medical care and other high-quality treatment. These care options include behavioral adjustments to manage abuse triggers.

Who Can Help Manage Opiate Addiction?

If you wonder, “What does Narcan do?” or have an addiction that may need this treatment, please contact us at Beaches Recovery. Call 866.605.0532 to set up an appointment with our JCAHO-accredited counselors. Our programs include primary care, extended treatment, transitional living, outpatient, and residential care. Contact us now to learn more about the benefits of coming to Jacksonville for treatment. We can provide rehab for you or rehab for a loved one. And make sure to verify your insurance before you begin.