Gov. Nathan Deal enlists naloxone to fight opioid epidemic

RABUN COUNTY —  According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., with 55,403 lethal drug overdoses in 2015.

Officials say opioid addiction is driving the overdose epidemic, with 20,101 overdose deaths related to prescription pain relievers and 12,990 overdose deaths related to heroin in 2015.

According to the Department of Public Health, Georgia is one of the states with a statistically significant increases in the rate of drug overdose deaths in 2013 to 2014.

These staggering numbers have prompted Governor Nathan Deal to take action in the fight against the opioid epidemic.

Deal provided an additional tool that will expand access to a life-saving drug to stem the tide of the opioid epidemic. That drug, naloxone will now be available to first responders, as well as over the counter at every pharmacy statewide.

“The state of Georgia and the country as a whole are currently experiencing an opioid abuse epidemic. In the fight against this trend, naloxone has come to be considered an important and life-saving tool in treating opioid overdoses. We are now building upon our previous efforts to expand access to naloxone for first responders and others who regularly encounter overdoses as they are occurring by placing this tool in the hands of Georgians, especially parents, who are both firsthand witnesses and victims of opioid overdose. We will continue working to implement similar efforts to save lives across the state,” said Deal.

Allison Powell, an Emergency Medical Pharmacist at St. Joseph Candler Hospital, said naloxone is key to treating drug overdoses.

“We use naloxone almost on a daily basis when we have opioid-related drug overdoses come in. If a person is not breathing or responsive, it is the number one gold standard therapy to give for an opiate-related overdose,” said Powell.

Dr. Scott Moore, an Emergency Room Physician at St. Joseph’s, agreed that naloxone could help to reduce overdose-related deaths.

“Naloxone is a drug that can save lives very quickly. Prescription overdoses, i.e. overdoses of prescription drugs, has surpassed the number deaths caused by illicit drug overdoses,” said Moore.

Officials said the expanded use of naloxone was a collective effort.

“I commend the Georgia Board of Pharmacy for acting quickly on this matter and Department of Public Health for issuing a standing order, basically a statewide prescription, to ensure that this life-saving drug is available to those who may need it,” said Deal.