Category: From Newswise – Substance Abuse

Newswise — A new paper in Rheumatology Advances in Practice, published by Oxford University Press, indicates that Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis, a nasal disease that causes inflammation of the blood vessels and commonly presents with symptoms in sinuses, throat, lungs, and kidneys, may be commonly misdiagnosed. Researchers believe that many patients identified with the sinus and nasal limited form of the disease may actually be suffering from nasal damage due to cocaine usage.

Cocaine is the second most commonly abused drug in the United Kingdom with 2.6% of the population between ages 16 and 59 years old using it. Some 4.8 million people in the United States (or 1.7% of those over age 12) report using cocaine in the past year. Cocaine can cause significant health problems, including cocaine-induced midline destructive lesions and various other vascular problems. However, evidence shows that cocaine use can trigger the production of certain antibodies that can lead to a clinical presentation that closely resembles idiopathic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis (GPA-formerly known as Wegener’s granulomatosis).

Together with occasional general symptoms such as arthralgia, fatigue, and skin rash, the similarity between GPA and damage due to cocaine makes diagnosis difficult for physicians. While GPA is rare, affecting approximately 3 out of every 100,000 people, the researchers here believe that the possibility for misdiagnosis is serious, as the common treatments for GPA may be ineffective, and even dangerous, for ongoing cocaine users. 

Researchers here performed a retrospective review of patients who visited vasculitis clinics for treatment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Birmingham, and at the Royal Free Hospital, in London. They identified 42 patients and found that current cocaine use was common, some 86% of samples provided were positive when routine urine toxicology was performed; 9 patients who denied ever using cocaine were identified as using cocaine based on urine toxicology analysis, while 11 who stated they were ex-users still tested positive.

The investigators note that ten patients referred to vasculitis treatment centers had been previously given a diagnosis of GPA and given immunosuppressive drugs, and despite this treatment they still had ongoing nasal problems. 

The researchers here believe that doctors should test patients with destructive nasal lesions or isolated sino-nasal disease for cocaine before making a diagnosis of GPA. Immunosuppressive drugs, they note, are often ineffective if cocaine use persists and would also increase the risk of significant adverse effects including infection.   

“This is an important paper that has changed our practice,” said Aine Burns, one of the paper’s authors. “We now include urine samples for drugs of abuse in our initial investigations of patients with GPA and in those who appear not to be responding to treatment. Sadly, we have seen young people with life-changing disfigurement because of cocaine-induced granulomatosis with polyangiitis. A better understanding of this condition prevents us from potentially harming patients further by administering inappropriate, potentially toxic, and futile treatments. There needs to be heightened awareness of this complication of cocaine use amongst users, the public, and healthcare professionals.”

The paper, “Cocaine-induced granulomatosis with polyangiitis – an under-recognized condition,” is available (at midnight on April 4^th) at: https://academic.oup.com/rheumap/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/rap/rkad027.

Newswise — A majority of Canadians who require medical cannabis are obtaining their products through the recreational market rather than the medical system, raising health and safety concerns, according to a massive new study led by a UM researcher.

The 5,744-participant study, titled Medical Cannabis Access Survey (MCAS), is one of the largest ever done from the perspective of Canadians accessing cannabis for medical purpose and was completed in collaboration with patient groups Medical Cannabis Canada and SheCann Cannabis, Santé Cannabis and McGill University.

In Canada, cannabis can be legally accessed recreationally or through a medical cannabis licensed seller with a medical authorization, similar to a prescription. But in this study, over half of those surveyed obtained their cannabis without medical authorization, according to principal investigator Dr. Lynda Balneaves, associate professor at the College of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.

“According to our study findings, those who take cannabis without a medical authorization were less likely to seek information from health-care professionals, less aware of the amount of cannabis they were consuming, and more likely to use the unregulated market than those with one,” Balneaves said. Specifically, those without a medical authorization were:

• 20 per cent less likely to speak to or seek information from a health-care professional;
• 16 per cent more likely to rely on non-evidence-based and unqualified sources of information (i.e., Google, recreational cannabis store, social media);
• 14 per cent more likely to report not knowing about how much medical cannabis they were actually taking;
• 7 per cent more likely to experience side effects; and,
• 27 per cent more likely to obtain cannabis from unregulated sources.

“People who don’t have medical authorization have limited access to medical advice on things like dosage, potency and type of product. It raises concerns about whether people are using medical cannabis safely and effectively, and if there could be potential harms to their health,” Balneaves says, adding they also face financial barriers.

Those with a medical authorization reported spending 25 per cent more on medical cannabis, but less than six per cent of individuals with a medical authorization received any insurance coverage for costs. The study found nearly half of those who stopped taking medical cannabis did so because it was too expensive.

“The Cannabis Act discourages and penalizes safe and accessible use for patients with a medical authorization,” says Max Monahan-Ellison, board chair of Medical Cannabis Canada, a patient research and advocacy group. “The MCAS data clearly highlights that Canadians accessing cannabis for medical purposes deserve more support and that starts with informed, patient-centered changes to the cannabis regulations.”

Based on the study’s findings, researchers propose six key recommendations for consideration during the federal review of the Cannabis Act and Regulations. These include a formal evaluation of the medical cannabis framework in consultation with patients; changes to cannabis regulations, tax policy, and insurance formularies to reduce out-of-pocket costs; and expansion of access to medical cannabis by adding community pharmacy dispensing.

The Medical Cannabis Access Survey report will be officially launched by the research team on April 4 at 1:00pm EDT at a virtual national panel. Interested individuals can register at: MCAS_2023.eventbrite.ca.

Read the full report at: medicalcannabissurvey.ca/report

Newswise — SPOKANE, Wash. –  An online “e-health” program helped more people with chronic pain reduce their opioid medications and pain intensity than a control group that had only regular treatment in a recent clinical study.

In the study published in the journal Pain, about 400 participants who had been prescribed long-term opioid treatment for their pain were divided into two groups: one received treatment as usual and another received treatment and access to a self-guided, e-health program. Of the e-health group, more than half, 53.6%, were able to reduce their opioid medications by 15% or more after six months compared to 42.3% of patients in the control group.

“These were very encouraging findings: not only were they reducing opioids but also their pain was not becoming worse,” said Marian Wilson, a Washington State University nursing associate professor and the study’s lead author. “Some people are hesitant to stop their opioid medication because they fear their pain will increase, but we found that at least on average in this population, they could reduce their opioids a bit and not have increased pain symptoms.”

An estimated 50 million people in the U.S. have chronic pain and about 18 million are prescribed long-term opioid treatment. Since opioid use risks include addiction and even accidental death, researchers are searching for alternatives to help these patients.

At the start of this study, all the participants rated their chronic pain at an average intensity of 5 or 6 on a 0 to10 point scale with 10 being the most extreme pain. Chronic pain can arise from a range of conditions that have no cure, and the study participants had a range of diagnoses including arthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia and migraines.

At the end of the study, 14.5% of the e-health group reported that their pain was reduced by 2 points or more. Only 6.8% in the control group had the same level of pain decrease. The researchers also observed the patients improved their pain knowledge, confidence managing pain and coping skills.

For this study, the researchers used a psychologist-designed e-health program, called Goalistics Chronic Pain Management. This self-guided course aims to help people manage their own pain and its many impacts on their lives. The program contains a mix of pain tracking tools, cognitive therapy, exercise tips and relationship advice as well as information about opioid use and risks.

The program provides content similar to what a patient might receive from a psychologist who specializes in pain, a treatment that isn’t easily accessible for everyone, said Wilson.

While similar programs exist, the researchers chose this one because it is widely available in the U.S. and delivered fully online. Wilson also tested the Goalistics program in previous research providing preliminary data for this study’s large, randomized trial.

Since pain is such an individualized experience, the authors argue that patients can benefit from self-management programs so they can track their pain levels and experiment with different strategies.

 “The idea is to put the patient in the driver’s seat because we can give them a prescription for opioids, and that will work for a little while, but over time for chronic pain, it’s not usually going to be the solution to fix all their troubles,” she said.

Wilson added that chronic pain patients often have mood, social and physical functioning issues that also need attention.

The findings provide more evidence that online self-management programs are beneficial for chronic pain patients, and a variety of agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, support their widespread use.

At the time of this study, the e-health program had a monthly $30 fee. While relatively inexpensive compared to treatment by a pain psychologist, these types of programs are not covered by most insurance in the U.S. Other countries including Canada and Australia provide similar programs to patients for free, and Wilson is currently working on a project that aims to achieve greater access in the U.S.

In addition to Wilson, study co-authors include Rowena Dolor of Duke University as well as Daniel Lewis, Saundra Regan, Mary Beth Vonder Meulen and T. John Winhusen of University of Cincinnati. This work was supported by the National Institute of Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health.

BYLINE: Monica Dziuba, PharmD, DPLA

Ochsner Health Blog

Newswise — Opioid overdose persists as a major healthcare problem, contributing to significant injury and death among opioid users around the world. As a virulent opioid epidemic continues to ravage the United States, a countless number of people who overdose on opioids are being saved with naloxone every day.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says naloxone counters the potentially fatal slowed breathing, extreme drowsiness and lost consciousness from an opioid overdose in as little as two minutes. Hailed as a miracle drug by many, it is not a controlled substance, does not carry any risk for abuse, and, if given erroneously to someone who is not experiencing an opioid overdose, it will have no effect nor harm.

What is naloxone and how does it work?

Naloxone (Narcan) is used for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose by reversing the life-threatening depression of the central nervous system and respiratory system, allowing an overdose victim to breathe normally.

The brain has many receptors for opioids; they fit into the same receptors in the brain that signal the body to breathe. An overdose occurs when too much of any opioid fits into too many receptors slowing, then stopping, a person’s breathing.

Naloxone has a stronger attraction to these receptors than many opioids, so it knocks the opioids off the receptors for a short time, reversing the overdose and allowing the person to breathe again.

How is naloxone given?

Take-home naloxone may be injected in a muscle or sprayed into the nose. It is a temporary drug that wears off in 30-90 minutes.

Use naloxone right away if you or a caregiver suspect or see signs or symptoms of an opioid overdose, even if you are not sure, because an opioid emergency can cause severe injury or death.

Read more about the signs of opioid overdose and how to respond.

Where can I get naloxone?

On March 29, 2023, the FDA approved Narcan for over-the-counter purchase, allowing anyone to buy this medication without a prescription. This approval will also allow Narcan to be sold at grocery stores, drugstores and gas stations. While the transition from prescription to over-the-counter status could take several months to complete, Narcan and alternative prescription formulations of naloxone are available at your local pharmacy, including Ochsner Pharmacy and Wellness. If you would like to purchase naloxone, just ask your pharmacist. Once you get naloxone, put it in an easily accessible place, tell your family and friends where it is and learn how to use it.

Who is at risk?

Anyone exposed to prescription or illegal opioids should be aware of risk factors that may lead to an accidental, life-threatening or deadly opioid overdose.

It is especially important for certain patients to have the antidote readily available. The CDC now recommends offering naloxone to patients on long-term and high-dose opioid therapy, who have a history of overdose or substance-use disorder, or who are also taking medications such as benzodiazepines.

Additionally, risk is increased for those with medical conditions such as depression or liver or lung disease and anyone who injects opioids such as heroin or fentanyl. Even for patients who are unlikely to overdose, it may be important to have naloxone in the house in case of accidental overdose.

For more information or to request an interview, contact .

Newswise — Are veterans who simultaneously take opioids for chronic pain and benzodiazepines for anxiety and insomnia at an increased risk of unintentional overdose and death as well as suicide?

Nearly 17 veterans die by suicide each day in the United States, a statistic that has led the Department of Veterans Affairs to make suicide prevention its highest priority and to recognize the risks from the simultaneous use of opioids and benzodiazepines. To tackle the issue, the VA asked the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) to convene a committee of experts to evaluate the effects of opioid and benzodiazepine use on all-cause mortality of U.S. veterans, including suicide.

The committee, chaired by Brian Strom, the chancellor of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, will quantify the effects of opioid and benzodiazepine prescribing on the risk of death among veterans who received care from the VA between 2007 and 2019. In their analysis, the committee will focus on the effect of opioid prescribing for pain, relative to alternative non-opioid pain treatments; the effects of higher doses relative to lower doses of opioids; the effect of co-prescribing a benzodiazepine among patients already receiving opioids, relative to alternative treatments for anxiety and other indications for benzodiazepines; and the effect of initiating opioids among patients already taking benzodiazepines. 

In 2019, Strom served as chair for a similar but separately funded NASEM committee that developed protocols that this committee will be considering. 

The study is congressionally mandated through the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act (Hannon Act) of 2019, which broadens mental health care and suicide prevention programs that will effectively evaluate and treat mental health conditions for veterans.

The committee will research and deliberate on this issue and hopes to release the report within the next two years. 

“Understanding the effects could help inform the use of opioid treatment as part of chronic pain management,” said Strom.

Additional committee members include:

• Amy Susan Buchanan Bohnert, Professor of Anesthesiology; Executive Director for Pain and Opioid Research, University of Michigan
• Adam P. Bress, Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Research for the Department of Population Health Sciences at the University of Utah Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine; Investigator at the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System
• Carl A. Castro, Professor, Director of the Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans & Military Families; Director of Military Veterans Programs, University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
• Lesley H. Curtis, Professor and Chair of the Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke School of Medicine
• John T. Farrar, Professor of Epidemiology, Neurology, and Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
• Robert Kerns, Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology and Psychology, Yale University
• Mathew Kiang, Assistant Professor,  Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine
• Hsien-Chang Lin, Associate Professor, Interim Associate Dean for Faculty Recruitment, Indiana University School of Public Health in Bloomington
• Miguel Marino, Associate Professor of Biostatistics, Oregon Health & Science University
• Anne Marie McKenzie-Brown, Professor, Anesthesiology; Vice Chair, Professional Development, Department of Anesthesiology, Emory University.
• Patience Moyo, Assistant Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice, Brown University School of Public Health
• Katie J. Suda, Professor, University of Pittsburgh Schools of Medicine and Pharmacy; Clinical Pharmacist Specialist, Research Health Scientist and Associate Director of Clinical Therapeutics with the VA Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion

Newswise — BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Heavy alcohol use creates a vicious cycle: It changes signaling pathways in the brain, which in turn affects cognitive functions like decision-making and impulse control — and makes the individual more likely to drink.

The mechanism behind this may involve the brain’s immune system, according to a recent article in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity. Assistant Professor of Psychology Florence Varodayan, part of Binghamton University, State University of New York’s Developmental Alcohol Exposure Research Center, is the lead author of “Chronic ethanol induces a pro-inflammatory switch in interleukin 1β regulation of GABAergic signaling in the medial prefrontal cortex of male mice.”

Varodayan began the project while she was a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of senior author Marisa Roberto, the Schimmel Family Chair of Molecular Medicine at The Scripps Research Institute. Other collaborators on the project include Binghamton University Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences Tony Davis, as well as scientists in the Roberto lab, and at the University of California at San Diego, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, University of Texas at Austin and La Jolla Institute for Immunology.

Compared to mice with moderate or no alcohol consumption, alcohol-dependent mice had twice as many cells producing the immune signaling molecule (IL-1β) in their medial prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain that plays a role in regulating cognitive function. And the molecule’s pathway worked differently: Rather than its usual protective role, in alcohol-dependent mice IL-1β increased inflammation and increased release of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which regulates neural activity in the brain. These changes persisted even when the mice no longer consumed alcohol.

“We suspected that IL-1β was playing a role in AUD, but the exact mechanisms in the brain have been unclear,” Varodayan said.

Alcohol and the neuroimmune system

The molecule’s link to alcohol use disorder (AUD) was first uncovered by previous research; individuals with certain mutations in the gene that codes for IL-1β are more prone to developing heavy levels of alcohol drinking, for example. Autopsies of people who suffered from AUD during life also showed higher levels of IL-1β in the brain.

You can think of the neuroimmune system as a specialized immune system just for the brain, Varodayan explained. Just like our peripheral immune system, it works to eliminate pathogens and promote proper healing after injury. In addition to those features, it also plays a role in healthy brain function.

Researchers have discovered that alcohol “mildly” activates the neuroimmune system, meaning that the activation pattern is weaker than that caused by a pathogen or an injury. But changes from this mild activation seem to persist and accumulate over time as an individual drinks more heavily and more often, she said.

Here’s how it works: When the neuroimmune system responds to a pathogen or injury, it first releases neuroimmune factor IL-1β, which triggers a quick, transient inflammatory response. This response is intended to resolve the injury or eliminate the pathogen, she explained. The neuroimmune system releases a second wave of anti-inflammatory factors to promote healing of affected brain cells.

“So, in the healthy brain, the neuroimmune system will resolve the ‘mild’ problem and the neurons will return to a healthy state. In the chronic ethanol brain, there will be ongoing inflammation that is likely an exaggerated response to the size of the initial problem,” she said. “This will likely lead to more widespread neuron damage that isn’t recoverable.”

Scientists hypothesize that the effects of heavy alcohol on neuroimmune signaling are linked to the cognitive decline seen in individuals with AUD. This research could potentially lead to improved treatment for substance abuse. Drugs that block the activity of IL-1β are already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.

“We plan to follow up on this study with more work on exactly how targeting specific components of the IL-1β pathway might be useful in treating alcohol use disorder,” Roberto said.

Ochsner Health has medical experts on standby to discuss the groundbreaking FDA approval for over-the-counter Narcan for overdose, many topics related to autism as we promote Autism Acceptance Month in April, including signs of Autism in adults. Black Maternal Health Week is coming up in April as well.   

• Gamechanger in the fight against drug overdose The most proven treatment for opioid overdose could soon be available over-the-counter thanks to today’s FDA approval. The goal is to make this life-saving drug more accessible to help prevent death from overdose. Ochsner Health Family Medicine physician, Dr. Clay Runfalo, is available to comment on this approval and what it could mean for saving lives in the future. 

• Autism Acceptance Month In April, we celebrate the patients and families affected by Autism, a complex developmental condition that impacts one in every 54 children in the United States. This year, we aim to help promote acceptance for autistic individuals and to build public awareness for their unique needs. Ochsner Health experts with the Michael R. Boh Center for Child Development can comment on a number of topics related to Autism, including picky eating habits, mealtime tips and signs of Autism in early childhood. 

• Signs of Autism in Adults Autism is typically diagnosed in early childhood, but what about individuals who’s symptoms were not identified and diagnosed as a child? As symptoms vary for every autistic person, it may be difficult for adults to know if the difficulties they’re experiencing could be undiagnosed Autism. Ochsner Health psychologist, Dr. Claire Burns, is available to discuss signs of Autism for adults, diagnosis options and resources for those diagnosed.  

• Black Maternal Health Week – April 11-17 Just this month, the CDC issued a report on the alarming rise of maternal mortality in the U.S., especially among Black pregnant women. This new report shows a 40% increase in maternal mortality in 2021 compared to 2020. Even more alarming is that the mortality rate for black women in America is 2.6 times higher than the rate for white women. National thought leader, Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell, continues to offer comments on the many social factors and barriers that could be contributing to this alarming trend and is available to interview on this important topic during Black Maternal Health Week. 

Ochsner Health is the largest not-for-profit academic health system in Louisiana, and one of the largest in the Gulf South, delivering patient-centered care through a nationally recognized network of 48 hospitals, 370 health centers and urgent care clinics, 4,600 physicians, and 38,000 employees. Ochsner Health has been listed as one of the best hospitals in the country 23 times, and ranked the #1 hospital in the state for the past 10 years by U.S. News & World Report.  

We can provided media experts on the topics suggested above and most any other healthcare /medical topic. 

Food & Drug Administration Approves Selling Narcan, The Drug Used To Reverse Opioid Overdoses, Over The Counter To Make It More Available 

Hackensack Meridian Addiction Experts Available To Comment On Need For Accessible Narcan, And Implications Of Availability Over The Counter

The opioid overdose antidote Narcan will soon be available over the counter, after the Food & Drug Administration cleared it for over the counter availability today.  In February, a  panel unanimously voted in favor of making Narcan available over the counter after discussions on whether untrained users would be able to safely and effectively use the nasal spray in an emergency overdose situation. The panel weighed concern about confusing instructions for the average person to use against the growing need for opioid overdose treatments. 

The move to make Narcan more readily available comes as the Centers for Disease Control  (CDC) sees a record surge in overdose deaths. Overall, drug overdose deaths rose from 2019 to 2021 with more than 106,000 drug overdose deaths reported in 2021. Deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) continued to rise with 70,601 overdose deaths reported in 2021. 

With the FDA approval of Narcan over the counter,  it would be the first treatment for an overdose made available without a prescription. Narcan is a prefilled nasal device that is used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. It is the leading drug to reverse an overdose, as others are available by injection. The manufacturer of Narcan says the over the counter version will be available starting this summer.

Narcan is currently available without a prescription in states where leaders have issued orders for pharmacists to sell the drug to anyone who asks for it. But not all pharmacies carry it and even when they do, they are required to keep it behind the counter. There is concern that the stigma of opioid addiction discourages people from asking a pharmacist for the drug. Now nationwide Narcan will soon be available in a drug store aisle rather than behind the counter, meaning people could purchase it without speaking with a pharmacist.

Hackensack Meridian addiction psychiatrists are available to speak about the importance of Narcan, and how making it available over the counter will make a significant difference in overdose deaths.

Lewis Nelson, chair of the department of emergency medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, is available to comment on the Food & Drug Administration’s approval of the sale of Narcan — a nasal spray version of naloxone, a drug that blocks an opioid’s effect on the brain — over the counter.

Following is a quote from Nelson that is available for pick-up for stories on this development.

“The nonprescription availability of naloxone is a potential game-changer that will help get this important opioid overdose reversal agent into the hands of people who need it when they need it,” said Nelson. “Although questions remain about its availability, cost, real-world effectiveness and safety, this is a strong move in the right direction.”

Narcan, a prescription nasal spray that reverses opioid overdoses, can now be sold over the counter after the FDA authorized the move on March 29. 

Peter A. Clark, S.J., PhD, is the director of the Institute of Bioethics and professor of medical ethics at Saint Joseph’s University. While he says the FDA authorization is good news, it is just a first step. 

Clark says the following: 

“In 2021, there were 107,000 reported fatal overdoses of opioids in the United States,” says Clark. “Access to Narcan has saved countless lives. We estimate that 44 million doses of Narcan have been distributed since 2016.”

“With the new FDA ruling, which approves OTC naloxone nasal spray over the counter, access to Narcan has the potential to reduce opioid overdoses throughout the United States,” says Clark.

“The major issue will be the cost of the over-the-counter Narcan,” says Clark. “A two-pack prescription of Narcan costs about $140 and with discounts, it could be less than $50 a dose. I would implore the pharmaceutical manufacturer to make accessibility to Narcan a priority and make sure it is at an affordable price.”

“Emergent BioSolutions has declined to disclose the price it plans to charge for the over-the-counter version of Narcan,” says Clark. “If this company is dedicated to improving public health, then I would implore them to put profit margins aside and look for what is in the best interest of the common good. Over-the-counter Narcan has the potential to save thousands of lives of the most vulnerable members of our society and the manufacturer has the means to make this become a reality.”

George A. Downs, PharmD, is the Dean Emeritus of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy (PCP) and Linwood F. Tice Professor of Pharmacy at Saint Joseph’s University. He agrees with Father Clark.

Downs says: 

“Finally, Narcan will be available to the general public,” says Downs. “Remember the days when Ipecac Syrup was available in every medicine cabinet? If a child took a poison, Ipecac Syrup was administered as the parents raced to the emergency room. Now, naloxone should be in everyone’s medicine cabinet (or, better, in every briefcase) in case an overdose is encountered.” 

“OTC naloxone provides for easy access,” says Downs. “However, cost will now become an issue. If the cost of Narcan is prohibitive, the general public will still not buy it and availability will still be a problem.” 

About Saint Joseph’s University

Founded in 1851 as Philadelphia’s Jesuit university, Saint Joseph’s University prepares students for a rapidly changing world by focusing on academic excellence and courageous exploration. With an intellectual tradition distinguished by a foundational liberal arts core and diversified by strong professional programs in education, business, health and science, Saint Joseph’s students are empowered, challenged and supported by faculty-scholar mentors to follow their own path. There are nearly 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students in the University’s four schools and colleges — the College of Arts and Sciences, the Erivan K. Haub School of Business, the School of Education and Human Development, and the School of Health Professions. With academic offerings in the most sought-after majors, including leading programs in the first-in-the-nation Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, nearly 100% of students are employed, pursuing advanced degrees or volunteering in prestigious service programs upon graduation. The University’s two networks of nearly 100,000 proud alumni keep alive the rallying cry — The Hawk Will Never Die.