The opioid epidemic claims more 70,000 lives each year in the U.S., and lifesaving interventions are urgently needed.
Although naloxone, sold as an over-the-counter nasal spray or injectable, saves lives by quickly restoring normal breathing during an overdose, administrating the medication requires a knowledgeable bystander – limiting its lifesaving potential. A team from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Northwestern University in Chicago has developed a device that may rescue people from overdose without bystander help.
In animal studies, the researchers found that the implantable device detects an overdose, rapidly delivers naloxone to prevent death and can alert emergency first responders. The findings are available Oct. 23 in Science Advances .
Naloxone has saved many lives. But during an overdose, people are often alone and unable to realize they are overdosing. 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." Robert W. Gereau, PhD, the Dr.
Seymour and Rose T. Brown Professor of Anesthesiology and director of the WashU Medicine Pain Center Prescription opioids – such as oxycodone – have helped people manage the physical and mental challenges of daily debilitating pain. But the addictive properties of pa.