Medical community battling uptick in opioid misuse

SRHN and our Naloxone Access Point program, was featured in an article released by Albert Lea Tribune on Friday February 25th.

“A lot has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic… There’s been a huge uptick in opioid use, which includes things such as oxycodone, hydrocodone and fentanyl. And that increase in popularity has proven deadly” Author Alex Guerrero says.

Dr. Casey Clements, an emergency physician at Mayo Clinic and a member of the opioid stewardship program, states that “Naloxone works by outcompeting the opioid on the receptor where it causes the problem.” Dr. Clements urges everyone to carry naloxone, and calls it an important tool in first-aid for the 21st century.

Out network was highlighted for passing Steve’s Law in 2014, which allows laypeople to carry naloxone. Two years ago, we launched our Naloxone Access Point program which eliminates physical location as a barrier to naloxone access for Minnesotans. 

Dr. Clements states that he is “hopeful that [naloxone] will start to be more available and prevalent through society, because when we come up on somebody in a public restroom who is not breathing and is not sleeping, time is of the essence.”

To read the full article, click here.