The Town of Acton Health Department has been awarded a grant to develop a strategic plan to confront substance abuse among the 50+ population.
Our mission is to raise awareness about the severity of substance abuse in the community and reduce the stigma for seeking help by establishing a coalition of providers, disseminating resources and creating a strategic plan for sustainability. We also plan to provide a resource guide with providers' information including services offered, insurance expected and phone numbers.
Help LinesIf you are in crisis, please call 911. If you need assistance, try these help lines:
Section 35 Medication Assisted Treatment Options Grief Resources | Substance Abuse ServicesFamily resources (local support meetings and resources)
| How to Respond to an OverdoseSTEP 1: CALL FOR HELP (CALL 911)AN OPIOID OVERDOSE NEEDS IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION. An essential step is to get someone with medical expertise to see the patient as soon as possible, so if no EMS or other trained personnel are on the scene, dial 911 immediately. All you have to say is: “Someone is not breathing.” Be sure to give a clear address and/or description of your location. Good Samaritan Law STEP 2: CHECK FOR SIGNS OF OPIOID OVERDOSE Signs of Overdose, which often results in death if not treated, include:
sign that the individual is near death. STEP 3: SUPPORT THE PERSON’S BREATHING Ideally, individuals who are experiencing opioid overdose should be ventilated with 100% oxygen before naloxone is administered so as to reduce the risk of acute lung injury. In situations where 100% oxygen is not available, rescue breathing can be very effective in supporting respiration. Rescue breathing involves the following steps:
Naloxone (Narcan) should be administered to any person who shows signs of opioid overdose, or when overdose is suspected. Naloxone injection is approved by the FDA and has been used for decades by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel to reverse opioid overdose and resuscitate individuals who have overdosed on opioids. Naloxone can be given by intramuscular or intravenous injection every 2 to 3 minutes. The most rapid onset of action is achieved by intravenous administration, which is recommended in emergency situations. The dose should be titrated to the smallest effective dose that maintains spontaneous normal respiratory drive. Opioid-naive patients may be given starting doses of up to 2 mg without concern for triggering withdrawal symptoms. The intramuscular route of administration may be more suitable for patients with a history of opioid dependence because it provides a slower onset of action and a prolonged duration of effect, which may minimize rapid onset of withdrawal symptoms. STEP 5: MONITOR THE PERSON’S RESPONSE All patients should be monitored for recurrence of signs and symptoms of opioid toxicity for at least 4 hours from the last dose of naloxone or discontinuation of the naloxone infusion. Patients who have overdosed on long-acting opioids should have more prolonged monitoring. Most patients respond by returning to spontaneous breathing, with minimal withdrawal symptoms. The response generally occurs within 3 to 5 minutes of naloxone administration. (Rescue breathing should continue while waiting for the naloxone to take effect.) Naloxone will continue to work for 30 to 90 minutes, but after that time, overdose symptoms may return. Therefore, it is essential to get the person to an emergency department or other source of medical care as quickly as possible, even if he or she revives after the initial dose of naloxone and seems to feel better. Do’s and Don’ts in Responding to Opioid Overdose
SOURCE - Arlington Opiate Outreach Initiative |