A new implant can deliver naloxone automatically to an opioid overdose victim The implant releases naloxone after sensing a drop in blood oxygen levels In animal studies, all creatures fully recovered within five minutes THURSDAY, Oct. 24, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- can save a person’s life by reversing a potentially fatal opioid overdose, and is now available as an over-the-counter medication. Unfortunately, there’s a very significant catch.
A knowledgeable bystander needs to be on hand to deliver the drug, either by nasal spray or injection. Now, researchers have developed an implant that might be able to automatically rescue people from an opioid OD without outside assistance. The implant is designed to detect an overdose and rapidly deliver naloxone to the OD victim, researchers said.
The implant also relays an emergency alert to first responders, researchers added. “During an overdose, people are often alone and unable to realize they are overdosing,” said researcher , director of the Washington University Pain Center. “If someone else is present, they need access to naloxone -- also known as Narcan -- and need to know how to use it within minutes.
” “We identified an opportunity to save more lives by developing a device that quickly administers naloxone to at-risk individuals without human intervention,” Gereau added in a university news release. More than 70,000 people die each year due to an opioid overdose, researchers said in background notes. Naloxone .