New Tool in the War Against Drugs: Anti-OD Kits

Time magazine recently reported on a controversial tool in the war against drug addiction and accidental overdose: The Anti-Overdose Kit. The kits are far from brand new, though. Chicago’s Recovery Alliance has handed out 11,000 of them since 2001, Time reports. The kits include vials of a drug called naloxone (also known by the brand name Narcan). It’s the same drug hospitals and EMTs use to reverse opiate overdose, a bigger problem than most of us realize, with overdoses killing upwards of 22,000 Americans each year.

Most overdoses are accidental and are suffered by someone with a history of chemical dependence who combines opioids and depressants (like a mix of OxyContin or and Xanax or alcohol, for example).

There are currently 17 states with programs in place that distribute the Anti-Overdose Kit and offer training on how to use them. As with needle exchange programs, though, critics question whether arming drug addicts with an overdose remedy encourages drug misuse. Addiction experts counter that the trauma of overdosing is enough to keep addicts from using naloxone as an insurance policy. Both sides agree that those who witness someone in the midst of an overdose are reluctant to call for help because the substances taken were often obtained illegally or they themselves are currently under the influence of illegal drugs.

The bottom line is this: Those with a problem need to live long enough to seek treatment for their addiction. If Anti-OD Kits allow them to do that, they can be an invaluable tool.

If you or someone you know needs help for a chemical addiction, call Alta Mira’s 24-hour helpline toll free.