County widens opioid training
Madison, who elected to attend the training on her own, said she would like to see her entire department trained.
Hunt said most people who sign up for the community training sessions are professionals such as social workers, counselors and nurses, but approximately 20 percent are concerned about a family member’s overdosing.
She said these are the individuals who often need the medication most, which is why she also offers one-on-one brief training sessions for parents and others who need to quickly learn how to administer naloxone and can’t wait until the next offered training.
“I don’t want them to wait. If they need [naloxone] today I want them to get it today,” Hunt said. “When you’re in crisis, all you need to know is these are the signs and here’s what you do. All they want to know is, ‘How do I save my child?’ ”
Naloxone is an “opioid antagonist,” used to counter the effects of opioids in the body, said DiPaula. The medication blocks opioid receptors in the brain, stopping the drugs from shutting down the body.
There are two ways to administer naloxone: to push the drugs into the body through the nose using an applicator, or to inject the medication through the shoulder or thigh. DiPaula likened naloxone to carrying an EpiPen for allergic reactions.
“If you have friends or family with [a substance abuse] disorder or are on opioids because of pain, having naloxone with you can be really important, because sometimes overdoses are accidental,” DiPaula said.
The medication is safe to use in children and pregnant women, Hunt said.
Naloxone has been used in hospitals for years, but DiPaula said its use at the community level in Maryland has become more widespread in the past four to five years as the opioid crisis has taken hold.
The Overdose Response Program run by the Maryland Department of Health certifies public or private entities to host training programs in overdose response tactics.
There are currently 80 approved programs statewide, three of which are in Howard County, hosted by the county’s health department, police department and the Maryland Jockey Club.
In June, the potential for naloxone’s use in Maryland grew even further when the state passed a new standing order to allow pharmacies to dispense the medication to anyone, regardless of whether they have been previously trained or certified in naloxone administration. kmagill@baltsun.com
Hunt said most people who sign up for the community training sessions are professionals such as social workers, counselors and nurses, but approximately 20 percent are concerned about a family member’s overdosing.
She said these are the individuals who often need the medication most, which is why she also offers one-on-one brief training sessions for parents and others who need to quickly learn how to administer naloxone and can’t wait until the next offered training.
“I don’t want them to wait. If they need [naloxone] today I want them to get it today,” Hunt said. “When you’re in crisis, all you need to know is these are the signs and here’s what you do. All they want to know is, ‘How do I save my child?’ ”
Naloxone is an “opioid antagonist,” used to counter the effects of opioids in the body, said DiPaula. The medication blocks opioid receptors in the brain, stopping the drugs from shutting down the body.
There are two ways to administer naloxone: to push the drugs into the body through the nose using an applicator, or to inject the medication through the shoulder or thigh. DiPaula likened naloxone to carrying an EpiPen for allergic reactions.
“If you have friends or family with [a substance abuse] disorder or are on opioids because of pain, having naloxone with you can be really important, because sometimes overdoses are accidental,” DiPaula said.
The medication is safe to use in children and pregnant women, Hunt said.
Naloxone has been used in hospitals for years, but DiPaula said its use at the community level in Maryland has become more widespread in the past four to five years as the opioid crisis has taken hold.
The Overdose Response Program run by the Maryland Department of Health certifies public or private entities to host training programs in overdose response tactics.
There are currently 80 approved programs statewide, three of which are in Howard County, hosted by the county’s health department, police department and the Maryland Jockey Club.
In June, the potential for naloxone’s use in Maryland grew even further when the state passed a new standing order to allow pharmacies to dispense the medication to anyone, regardless of whether they have been previously trained or certified in naloxone administration. kmagill@baltsun.com
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