Fentanyl in Pennsylvania's heroin

mycrofft

mycrofft

Still crazy but elsewhere
Messages
11,322
Reaction score
49
Points
48
Public Radio this AM carried a story about the big rise in OD deaths being caused by heroin being sold with fentanyl in it.

http://www.capradio.org/news/npr/story?storyid=269750147

Wait, telling junkies how to recognize an OD and getting NARCAN out there for laypersons to use?

THoughts? Experiences?
 
mycrofft said:
Public Radio this AM carried a story about the big rise in OD deaths being caused by heroin being sold with fentanyl in it.

http://www.capradio.org/news/npr/story?storyid=269750147

Wait, telling junkies how to recognize an OD and getting NARCAN out there for laypersons to use?

THoughts? Experiences?
Click to expand...

Narcan should be something junkies can get a script for from clinics, if not straight up OTC. I also think every BLS ambulance should carry it.

I am not a fan, however, of the government giving out narcan and/or clean needles. Or anything else, really.
 
While it's not mentioned in the article, this is most likely acetyl fentanyl and not fentanyl citrate, which we have on the trucks. Acetyl fentanyl is a Schedule I controlled substance and has been labelled as having no medical properties and is 15 LESS potent than fentanyl citrate.
Rhode Island has had 22 confirmed fatal ODs in the first 15 days of the year on heroin cut with acetyl fentanyl.
 
I guess I found this sad and kinda ironic..

1) Teaching a junkie on what the s/s of an OD are?.. Really? They don't know?

2) Now Fentanyl may be an additive? Anyone care to predict the rise in sales?

3) Discuss the treatment of using Narcan (usually non prescribed medication)?
Really, I have not met very many users that did not already know about Narcan.. sometimes they know as much about Narcan as the one giving it.

Yes, I agree inform the "users" they may now be getting more than they will bargain for... but I do doubt, that they already knew this information before the media.


Lot of ethical dilemmas?
 
We had a rash of Fentanyl laced heroine ODs here last summer. July long weekend they were dropping like flies. There were a few calls where the crew has to use 4mg IV to get them to come around.

The street nurses run a street narcan program up here. So far I've only been to one call where a narcan kits was used, but it was a good application (intentional OD suicide attempt, friends found him apenic in a bathtub after he texted everyone to say goodbye). Some medics were little upset over the street narcan which I really couldn't understand ... are we concerned they don't know how to use a hypodermic?
 
On this past Friday the Allegheny County Public Health Director was stating that it is Fentanyl Citrate - 1000 x more potent than heroin...and the junkies are looking for it to try it...:wacko:
 
RescueRider724 said:
On this past Friday the Allegheny County Public Health Director was stating that it is Fentanyl Citrate - 1000 x more potent than heroin...and the junkies are looking for it to try it...:wacko:
Click to expand...
Why does that surprise you?

The biggest advertisement for heroin is to have someone OD on it...because...you know...it's very potent.

You should really learn something about the mentality of the people you'll be dealing with.
 
Halothane said:
Narcan should be something junkies can get a script for from clinics, if not straight up OTC. I also think every BLS ambulance should carry it.
Click to expand...

As of this fall, all 911 ambulances in Maryland are required to carry IN Narcan as a BLS drug.
 
IN narcan is cute and useful in traditional ODs, however the strength of this heroin cut with fentanyl is killing people with preexisting drug problems. These are people with tolerances and habits. ERs have been giving as much as 6mgs of narcan to regain the respiratory drive. Not consciousness.
 
triemal04 said:
Why does that surprise you?

The biggest advertisement for heroin is to have someone OD on it...because...you know...it's very potent.

You should really learn something about the mentality of the people you'll be dealing with.
Click to expand...

"You" meaning all of us, I assume. Right on.
I know. Flood the market with heroin laced with narcan.
 
mycrofft said:
"You" meaning all of us, I assume. Right on.
I know. Flood the market with heroin laced with narcan.
Click to expand...
No, "you" meaning the person I quoted. What the :censored::censored::censored::censored: is your problem these days?
 
triemal04 said:
No, "you" meaning the person I quoted. What the :censored::censored::censored::censored: is your problem these days?
Click to expand...

I'll pm you.
 
triemal04 said:
Why does that surprise you?

The biggest advertisement for heroin is to have someone OD on it...because...you know...it's very potent.

You should really learn something about the mentality of the people you'll be dealing with.
Click to expand...

Well we can all always learn more about the people we are dealing with, with only 8 years as a street cop (FF/EMT now) I know I could always learn more, however; that does not mean that I understand it in the slightest.
 
A patch of that was spread around a city outside of Cleveland a couple months ago 20+ overdoses in a 24 hour period.
 
PA DOH gave us a memo posted about the fentanyl laced heroin the other day, Along with some other info about the flu.

I'm waiting for one to come through I work in a huge heroin ridden community and usually have at least one overdose a week.

I was watching some special on heroin use as most people get started on it because they were pill poppers that couldn't get pills. And that safe havens or needle clinics or whatever they are were issuing narcan to users in the event of overdose. This of course is to be used IN by a family member. OTOH if you administer 2MG IN Narcan and your family member is not adequately breathing how is this dose IN going to get into them?
 
unleashedfury said:
This of course is to be used IN by a family member. OTOH if you administer 2MG IN Narcan and your family member is not adequately breathing how is this dose IN going to get into them?
Click to expand...

Mucosal absorption I'd imagine. No different than when we give it.
 
chaz90 said:
Mucosal absorption I'd imagine. No different than when we give it.
Click to expand...

True but I figured that when you ventilate the patient it would allow for faster or more complete absorption, Eh I guess you learn something new everyday.
 
RescueRider724 said:
Well we can all always learn more about the people we are dealing with, with only 8 years as a street cop (FF/EMT now) I know I could always learn more, however; that does not mean that I understand it in the slightest.
Click to expand...
Really? All that time as a cop and you never figured something like this out? Huh...

Allow me to elaborate: when there are a large number of OD's due to a particular brand of heroin it's probably because of the potency. So to a junkie, that either means that they'll get a better high, or have to use less. Win win situation for them...

Communication and being able to talk with different types of patient's is huge in EMS, and in police work. Probably even more so for a cop. Understanding where people are coming from only helps with that.
 
Yes that is the point....thanks for making it again, did not catch it the first time.......:huh:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top