As the Granite State continues to grapple with the opioid epidemic, it is nice to see one town taking an obvious step toward preventing these deaths.
Fatal drug overdoses in New Hampshire rose faster than they did in the rest of the country, according to a July 5 WMUR 9 article. The 2022 report from the state’s medical examiner’s office also noted the number of deaths was at its highest since 2017.
It is deeply concerning to me that years and years have gone by and these same issues are still just as present as they were when I was in elementary school.
However, on March 29, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took a massive step in the right direction when it approved Naloxone Nasal Spray, also known as Narcan, to be sold over-the-counter.
It is no secret that Narcan saves lives, as it has been used by law enforcement and emergency medical technicians for years now to rapidly reverse the effects of drug overdoses, particularly from heroin, fentanyl or prescription opioids.
When the FDA approved the nasal spray, it seemed like a no-brainer to me. It is incredibly valuable to empower average citizens to obtain this life-saving medication, which is why I am glad to see Littleton, N.H. take things a step further by dispensing it in a vending machine free of charge.
The vending machine, which sits outside the Mt. Eustis Commons building in the town, operates 24/7 and provides up to six free doses of the spray at a time, according to an April 11 NHPR article. Additionally, the article stated the machine is anonymous to use.
While the stigma around drug addiction is undeniably still present in our state and country as a whole, people need to take advantage of a resource like this, and it should certainly be implemented here on campus.
You never know when, or if, you will encounter someone experiencing a drug overdose when you are going through your day. It is a sad reality that we must be on the lookout for these things, but being prepared by having this medication and knowing how to use it can be and is often lifesaving.
The New York State Department of Health provided a useful guide on how to use the spray.
The guide states to first hold the spray with your thumb on the bottom of the plunger and your first and middle finger on either side of the nozzle. Then, tilt the person who is experiencing the OD’s head back, while supporting their neck with your hand.
Following this, gently insert the tip of the nozzle into one nostril until your fingers on either side of the nozzle are against the bottom of the person’s nose. Press the plunger firmly until the dose is administered.
If the person does not respond within two minutes, give them another dose. Additionally, the guide urges anyone to call 911 if they have not already, and to lay the person experiencing the OD into the ‘recovery position,’ which means their hand is supporting their head and their knee stops their body from rolling onto their stomach.
While I am grateful Keene State routinely hosts Narcan training for students, faculty and staff, and community members alike, more can be done to expand access and knowledge of how to use the medication.
There is no reason why a vending machine like the one in Littleton could not be placed on the first floor of the L.P. Young Student Center and allow an accessible, on-campus method of securing the spray.
Another step the college could take is to implement programming in either orientation or first-year seminar on how to use Narcan.
These two steps would not only increase student knowledge of overdoses, it would make people feel like they can do something about it, rather than freeze when the time comes, which can easily be fatal.
Education, empowerment and accessibility should be a priority and there will always be room for us to grow as a campus.
Nathan Hope can be contacted at
nhope@kscequinox.com
