Narcotic Overdose Research Paper

The Physiological Effects and Reactive effects of a Narcotic Overdose Narcotic overdoses have become an ever-increasing public health emergency in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Narcotics, defined by the Miriam-Webster Dictionary as “a drug that in moderate doses dulls the senses, relieves pain, and induces profound sleep but in excessive doses causes stupor, coma, or convulsions,” has long been part of medical treatment and illegal usage. Overdose, was also defined by Miriam-Webster Dictionary as “a lethal or toxic amount of a drug” (Miriam-Webster 2017). An overdose is a common fatal symptom of illicit narcotics use. Respiratory depression and aspiration often leading to death, are two common medical effects or symptoms, caused by a narcotic overdose. A narcotics overdose creates lasting physiological effects within the abuser, but also has a rippling impact on the community. This epidemic has created panic with lawmakers
and created a need to have more first responder personnel know how to properly handle these types of situations.
Respiratory depression, one of the first serious effects of an overdose to be observed in a subject, is defined by Scott R. Snyder, Sean M. Kivlehan, and Kevin T. Collopy (2013) in Understanding Overdose as “breathing that is both slow and shallow”. They continue that narcotics decrease respiratory function by suppressing the sensitivity of the respiratory centers of the brain (Snyder et al., 2013). Per a journal by Caroline J. Jolley, James Bell, Gerrard Rafferty, John Moxham, and John Strang (2015) they state that respiratory depression is a major factor contributing to the death rate of heroin addicts. They then detailed their study involving ten patients who were administered pharmaceutical heroin in a controlled setting while monitoring their respiratory function. At the end of the study, eight of the ten patients were found to have suffered from some level of respiratory depression. When investigating the causes of fatal overdoses, many people question why respiratory depression occurs. Narcotics, are natural respiratory depressants that when taken in excess, contribute greatly to the high mortality rate of addicts. Therefore, not only do narcotics suppress the respiratory center of the brain during a chemical reaction after exposed to excessive quantities, but they naturally inclined cause respiratory depression (Jolley et al., 2015).
While respiratory depression is a major symptom caused by narcotics, it is not necessarily fatal by itself. However, when coupled with aspiration and unconsciousness, it can be lethal. Aspiration, is defined by the Miriam-Webster Dictionary as “the taking of foreign matter into the lungs with the respiratory current” (Miriam-Webster 2017). Aspiration can be minor, such as when small amounts of food go down into your lower respiratory system while eating. It can also be life threatening, when drug abusers regurgitate the content of their stomachs while unconscious. This leads to asphyxia, pneumonia, and death. In a study by David M. Kaufman, Thomas Hegyi, and Joel L. Duberstein (1972), patient information was gathered from one major hospital in the New York City area. The study, completed over three years, involved a total of 49 adolescent patients, all of which were suffering from some degree of narcotic overdose and had been transported to the hospital for treatment. The age of the patients ranged from fourteen to seventeen years of age. The study found that in thirty-one cases, infiltrate, or foreign matter caused by aspiration, was discovered in the patient’s lungs. This was determined by attempting to conduct chest x-rays on every patient in the study upon arrival to the hospital. Eleven patients had no signs of aspiration however, seven of those persons did not undergo chest x-rays. In several cases, aspiration was apparent to the authors of the study, as they personally observed foreign matter such as “frothy liquid” in the patient’s airway while treating them (Kaufman et al., 1972). Depending on the circumstances of one’s overdose, it is logical that aspiration resulting in a partial or full blockage of a person’s airway with foreign matter, would most likely result in death by asphyxia after several minutes if untreated. That leads to the third and largest effect caused by narcotic overdoses, the reactive response of law makers, first responders and medical personnel to what they often describe as an epidemic.
Every drug abuser is someone’s child, friend, spouse, or loved one and losing them can cause everlasting effects for those involved. It is an incredible burden to bear when loved ones feel that they could have done something to prevent the overdose. While this problem continues to grow, law makers, first responders, and medical personnel are doing their part to help prevent the gross number of losses due to drug overdoses. As of recent, due to the enormous scale of narcotics use, abuse, and overdoses, police officers and civilians are now being trained to use and are being provided with Narcan, a nasal spray version of Naloxone. Narcan, per Narcan’s website, is described as “the first and only FDA-approved nasal form of naloxone for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected overdose.” It continues that can be used to prevent fatal complications caused by an overdose. Since most accidental overdoses occur in a home setting, it was developed for first responders, as well as family, friends, and caregivers (Narcan 2016). The reason this drug is being so widely used is because of the large scale of narcotics abuse and the resulting casualties. In Maryland, Governor Larry Hogan and Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford, in response to the enormous scale of narcotics use and abuse, declared a state of emergency on March 1, 2017. In the Governors announcement, which is detailed on the Maryland.gov website, he states “We need to treat this crisis the exact same way we would treat any other state emergency. With this continuing threat increasing at such an alarming rate, we must allow for rapid coordination with our state and local emergency teams,” said Governor Hogan. “We must cut through the red tape so that we are empowering the important work being done in our many state agencies and at the local level all across our state. This is about taking an all-hands-on-deck approach so that together we can save the lives of thousands of Marylanders.
The fact of the matter is that people all across Maryland, and across our country, are looking for answers when it comes to this heroin and opioid epidemic. Too many families know the devastation caused by this crisis and the death toll is climbing,” said Lt. Governor Rutherford. “Ultimately, this is about saving lives, and it will take all of us working together in a collaborative, holistic approach to achieve that.”
The announcement continued that Fifty Million dollars will be used to combat the growing epidemic, by providing prevention, recovery, and enforcement efforts. The announcement came after the governor had already previously announced his 2017 Heroin Prevention, Treatment, and Enforcement Initiative, a multi-pronged strategy to tackle the ever-changing threat of heroin and opioid addiction. The initiative includes several important pieces of legislation: the Prescriber Limits Act of 2017, the Distribution of Opioids Resulting in Death Act, and the Overdose Prevention Act, as well as important budgetary spending, including $4 million in new funding to address the crisis (Maryland 2017).
In conclusion, not only are narcotics effecting the patient’s lives and health, but are changing the way the state, country, civilians, first responders, and medical personnel are responding.
The negative health effects of an overdose such as respiratory depression and aspiration, are just the beginning. Other effects such as decreased brain function, psychological conditions, and death are unfortunately all too common. On the other hand, because of the epidemic caused by narcotics and their abusers subsequent overdoses, states such as Maryland are declaring a state of emergency to designate funds to support prevention, treatment, and enforcement of the issue. Medicines such as Narcan, the user friendly nasal spray version of Naloxone, is being provided to first responders, families of abusers, treatment centers, and businesses to help prevent fatal or serious complications caused by an overdose. As the problem continues to grow, so will the efforts of legislators and first responders in service of their
constituents.