A role for families

February 18, 2021

In recognition of International Family Drug Support Day on February 24, WRAD would like to remind families and loved ones of an important role they can play in saving the life of someone dependent or uses opioids such as heroin but also prescribed opioid pain medications in large doses.

Both within Australia and internationally, the rising use of opioids is a cause of concern. All opioids – including codeine – can be addictive and their use can result in dependence, accidental overdose, hospitalisation or death. Legal or pharmaceutical opioids (including codeine and oxycodone) are responsible for far more deaths and poisoning hospitalisations than illegal opioids (such as heroin). Every day in Australia, nearly 150 hospitalisations and 14 emergency department presentations involve opioid harm, and three people die from drug-induced deaths involving opioid use.

That’s a staggering number of presentations and highlights the need for adequate “in home” lifesaving procedures to be available. Naloxone is a lifesaving medication that reverses the effects of opioids and provides opportunities for overdoses to be treated immediately. Currently you can access this medication via a script from your doctor but in the future it is hoped to be more freely available.

As a family member of someone who takes high dose opioids either prescribed or illicitly, knowing how to administer Naloxone will save lives. WRAD has staff trained in how to administer Naloxone either via an intranasal device (Nyxoid), or through intramuscular injection via ampoules or pre-filled syringe (Prenoxad).

It sounds scary and complicated but its quite a simple process and you can do no harm by using this medication and it might just save a life if you can get to the person in time.