A drug called naloxone has the potential to stop overdoses in heroin addicts. Hence many needle exchange programs are prescribing this drug to heroin addicts.
A drug called naloxone has the potential to stop overdoses in heroin addicts. Hence many needle exchange programs are prescribing this drug to heroin addicts. The news follows the deaths of at least 400 people who have consumed heroin laced with fentanyl.
Prevention Point Philadelphia, a nonprofit organization responsible for needle exchange program in the city has started the distribution of naloxone prescriptions through a physician. "If people have to rely on paramedics, more often than not, the overdose is going to be fatal, just because of the amount of time for people to get there," Prevention Point Philadelphia's executive director, Casey Cook, was quoted as telling by the Associated Press.But many experts feel that only trained paramedics should give out Narcon prescriptions. Even this may convey the impression that drug addiction is accepted.
Jennifer DeVallance, a spokeswoman for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy said, "We don't want to send the message out that there is a safe way to use heroin."
