Pubdate: Wed, 09 Aug 2006
Source: Boston Herald (MA)
Copyright: 2006 The Boston Herald, Inc
Contact:  http://news.bostonherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53
Author: Donna Goodison
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)

HUB TAKES STEPS TO COMBAT FATAL OVERDOSE CRISIS

The Boston Public Health Commission plans to launch a new pilot 
program this month to combat what it calls the city's "severe and 
growing" problem of fatal drug overdoses. The overdose prevention and 
reversal program would train active opiate drug users - those who 
inject or use drugs such as heroin, OxyContin and fentanyl - how to 
counteract what could be fatal overdoses by spraying nasal doses of 
the prescription drug Narcan.

"The increase in the purity levels of heroin and the decrease in 
prices have led to a larger number of heroin overdoses, both fatal 
and nonfatal, and a greater number of young people who are 
experimenting with heroin," said John Auerbach, the commission's 
executive director.

Training drug users to use Narcan would be one part of a larger 
three-prong educational program offered as an option to current 
clients of the city's needle-exchange program, which typically sees 
1,000 people over a three-month period. Similar programs, using 
Narcan injections, are operating in Baltimore, Chicago, New York, New 
Mexico and San Francisco.

"Our first priority is assisting them in stopping their use of 
harmful drugs," Auerbach said.

Those who say they're not ready for treatment will be taught how to 
prevent overdoses from being fatal by calling 911, checking vital 
signs, using rescue breathing, and not using drugs when they're alone.

"The third piece of the program will offer them the opportunity to 
see a doctor who will determine if they should be prescribed Narcan," 
Auerbach said.

Narcan is stocked in each of the city's ambulances to combat 
overdoses and also is used in emergency rooms. Its use still would 
require those who overdose to call 911 for medical attention, as the 
effects can wear off within a half-hour to 45 minutes.

The city of Baltimore, which has one of the nation's worst heroin 
problems, launched its "Saving Lives" program that uses Narcan 
injections in April 2004.

"We have around 900 people trained, and we've had approximately 100 
reported reversals," said Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Baltimore's public 
health commissioner.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman