Narcan is a life-saving opioid abuse treatment, but does Narcan work on alcohol? This medication is widely available because of how important it is in the case of an opioid overdose. In fact, Narcan kits can be taken home and kept on hand for emergencies. It is easy to source Narcan because it’s available as an over-the-counter medication. But people often wonder how far its abilities extend. Since alcohol leads to substance use disorder like opioids do, can Narcan defeat alcohol overdose as well? Let’s talk about the parameters of Narcan use and what exactly it does to help people who’ve overdosed.
Does Narcan work on alcohol? Here’s what you need to know about using aloxone for overdoses.
What Is Narcan?
Narcan is the brand name for the medication naloxone. To elaborate, naloxone is an opioid antagonist, meaning it works similarly to opioids but with the opposite effect. Just as opioids bind to opioid receptors in the brain, so does naloxone. Yet, while opioids modify the brain to create pleasurable effects through neurotransmitters, naloxone stops the effects. In fact, the medication both blocks opioids and also starts to reverse their impacts. So, is naloxone the same thing as Narcan? Yes, Narcan is the over-the-counter medication containing the active ingredient, naloxone. Narcan can be purchased in two ways as approved by the FDA: as a nasal spray and as an injectable liquid.
As noted, Narcan is used to immediately treat opioid overdose to save lives. Police and first responders carry naloxone kits to help individuals who have overdosed. These kits are readily available, but everyone should receive proper training on how to administer Narcan before administering it. This includes how to use it, when to use it, what to do after giving Narcan, and the right Narcan dose. If you administer it wrong, can you overdose on Narcan? No, naloxone is a safe medication that can’t be overdosed. However, Narcan will reverse the effects of opioids, which can place people in a state of withdrawal. The more naloxone they take, the stronger their initial withdrawal symptoms may be. Notably, this can increase their risk for relapse. Therefore, Narcan is safe, but it’s best when individuals receive treatment for their opioid addiction after receiving naloxone from overdosing. This helps them fully recover from opioid abuse rather than repeat the cycle.
Does Narcan Work on Alcohol?
So, what does Narcan help with besides opioids? Does Narcan work on alcohol poisoning? Unfortunately, the medication doesn’t work on alcohol in the system. However, it won’t harm someone if they take Narcan without opioids in their body. One of the reasons why naloxone is such a safe medication is because it solely works on opioid cases. People sometimes ask, What does Narcan do to a sober person? If an individual without opioids in their system receives a Narcan dose, they won’t have any effects. Thus, it’s safe to administer Narcan when you’re not sure if a person is experiencing an opioid overdose because if you’re wrong, the drug simply won’t take effect. In the same way, Narcan does not have any results for alcohol overdose and won’t cause harm. If you think someone might have mixed alcohol with opioids, naloxone could help reverse the opioids’ effects, which will still help them in the moment.
What Drug Overdoses Can Narcan Help With?
People often have questions about what drug overdoses Narcan can be used for. Does Narcan work on cocaine, heroin, and other illicit street drugs? Does Narcan work on prescription medications? Let’s discuss Narcan’s effects on the following substances.
Heroin
Heroin is an illegal drug with no approved medical use, so it’s purely used for the high. It is usually injected into the veins, though it can be smoked or snorted. It produces side effects of euphoria, a “rush,” heavy limbs, and sleepiness. Heroin is a semi-synthetic opioid made from chemically processed morphine, which is itself a natural opiate. As such, Narcan can be used in cases of heroin overdose.
Morphine
Morphine is a natural opioid substance originating from the opium poppy plant. It has strong pain-relieving properties, which is why it’s used for surgery, severe acute pain, and chronic pain. However, morphine is highly addictive and can be overdosed. Morphine should only be used within a prescription; however, individuals commonly use the substance for a high. Naloxone is effective at reversing the effects of morphine.
Oxycodone
Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opioid agonist that can be prescribed for pain management. In fact, oxycodone is FDA-approved for both acute and chronic pain cases. OxyContin and Roxicodone are two brand name prescriptions containing oxycodone. Oxycodone is a popular street drug, known by oxy, roxy, beans, and hillbilly heroin. Narcan can treat oxycodone overdose because this substance is an opioid.
Hydrocodone
Hydrocodone is another semi-synthetic opioid pain relief medication. Like the others, it has a high addiction potential and should never be used illicitly. Hydrocodone is considered more potent than morphine, though it has morphine-like properties. Notably, hydrocodone is synthesized from the opiate codeine. Narcan can be a life-saving solution when someone has taken too much hydrocodone.
Naloxone, regardless of its form, only treats opioid abuse because of the way the medication binds to opioid receptors. However, if an individual has engaged in polysubstance abuse (where they’ve taken multiple drugs), Narcan can treat the opioids involved.
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Why Are Opioids Dangerous?
Opioids are one of the most addictive and widely abused substances, both around the world and in the United States. In fact, opioid abuse is known as the national opioid crisis because of how many people have died from opioid overdose. From 1999 to 2020, over 800,000 people in the United States alone died from opioids. They are abused in all forms, both prescription medications and illegally-manufactured drugs. Opioid abuse occurs in every state. Unfortunately, opioid addiction in Washington state is a serious problem. Why are opioids so dangerous? They are both incredibly potent and extremely addictive. Because opioids alter your brain chemistry as you use them, opioid use disorder (OUD) is a brain disorder. It’s impossible to quit on your own because they cause psychological and physical dependency.
What Are the Dangers of Alcohol Abuse?
In a similar way, alcohol addiction is a disorder stronger than the individual. The most severe form of alcohol abuse is alcohol use disorder (AUD), also referred to as alcoholism. Just as opioids trigger the brain’s reward system, alcohol does the same. The effect is temporary pleasure, release, dissociation, and sociability. However, alcohol works on your brain messaging to modify how your central nervous system functions. People develop AUD over time as they form unhealthy habits around drinking. Many people don’t realize alcohol is one of the most addictive substances that traps millions of people in the addiction cycle. One of the reasons alcohol abuse is so dangerous is because AUD is a chronic condition. Although you can treat and overcome alcohol addiction, you will always have to stay vigilant to prevent relapse.
Since Narcan can’t help in the case of an alcohol overdose, the best way to escape the addiction cycle is to receive professional alcohol rehab.
What To Do When Someone Is Overdosing
Naloxone is a rescue medication for cases of opioid overdose. As mentioned, it’s important you understand how to properly administer both forms of Narcan before you help anyone. When someone is overdosing on opioids, time is of the essence. The following steps can be followed to help someone who is experiencing opioid overdose or alcohol poisoning. However, in the case of alcohol abuse, Narcan won’t help unless the individual has opioids in their system as well.
Use Narcan for an Opioid Overdose
Naloxone kits are extremely beneficial medication kits to have available when you encounter individuals with opioid use disorders. Narcan, the brand name, comes in both as a nasal spray and as an injectable liquid. If you are frequently around at-risk individuals or have a history of substance abuse, you can access naloxone kits. Before using the medication on yourself or others, make sure you receive proper training, such as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) naloxone training.
How to Use Narcan to Stop an Overdose
In order to use Narcan in the case of an overdose, you will administer the medication according to its form. If you have the nasal spray, help the person lie down on their back with their head tilted. Give one spray directly into the individual’s nostril. If using the vials and needles, tap the vial to remove air bubbles. Then, place the syringe into the vial and pull back the lever to fill the plunger. It is best to inject into the upper thigh or arm.
Call Emergency Services
After administering Narcan, stay with the person and call emergency services. Answer as many questions as you can and see if you can get the individual to respond. The emergency worker on the phone will instruct you how to proceed as you wait for the first responders to arrive.
Check for a Pulse and Monitor Breathing
While you stay with the person, make sure they continues to breathe. They may have slow, shallow breathing because of the slowing effects an opioid overdose has on the system. Try to engage the individual as much as you can so they stay awake. You can check their pulse points to monitor their heartbeat.
Keep Their Airway Clear
It is imperative that the individual experiencing the overdose has as much ease of breathing as possible. Make sure they don’t have anything blocking their airways, including their tongue. To help them breathe, turn them onto their side, with their head resting on their arm. Raise their knee to prevent them from rolling all the way onto their stomach. This position will ensure they don’t choke on their tongue or vomit.
Finding Professional Help for Substance Abuse
Treatment for alcohol addiction involves a comprehensive, evidence-based approach that addresses both the physical and psychological aspects of alcohol dependence. At a recovery center or treatment facility, individuals may begin with alcohol detox to manage alcohol withdrawal symptoms safely under the care of a healthcare professional. Medications for alcohol use disorder, such as naltrexone, are often used to reduce cravings by blocking the effects of alcohol’s pleasurable sensations, and cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy help change harmful patterns related to alcohol consumption. Those with co-occurring conditions like bipolar disorder, eating disorders, trauma, or drug addictions—including fentanyl addiction, heroin addiction, and cocaine addiction—can benefit from dual diagnosis treatment. Levels of care include inpatient rehab, partial hospitalization programming (PHP), intensive outpatient programming (IOP), and evening IOP for flexible scheduling. Individual therapy, family therapy, and trauma therapy are core components of a personalized treatment plan. Support continues with outpatient programs and sober living to help individuals stop drinking and maintain recovery.
Substance abuse, such as opioid addiction and alcoholism, is a serious condition that will destroy a person’s life if not treated. It is challenging to be the person who witnesses someone overdosing, especially if it’s someone you love. Without intervention, substance use disorders (SUD) will not get better on their own. The dangerous cycle of drug and alcohol use will continue unless the person does the inner work of overcoming their addiction. Thankfully, naloxone can be used in the moment to reverse an opioid overdose. Does Narcan work on alcohol? No, the medication doesn’t improve the effects of alcohol poisoning. Both drug and alcohol addictions require professional treatment to experience true, lasting healing.
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