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Fun friday fact about opioid overdoses: many people think that 'mild' overdoses are the ones where we 'just' give oxygen, and the severity of an overdose can be judged by the number of doses of naloxone we give. 1/
In fact, in our SCS we often give smaller doses of naloxone (0.1mg to 0.2mg) at client request because uncomfortable dyskinesia or RR < 10 with normal SpO2 ( so no supp O2 needed). 2/
Clients are usually really happy that we can wake them up a bit wihout pushing them unto withdrawal (we are too!). 3/
Our 'serious' overdoses are ones where we need to use a bag-valve mask to breathe for our clients and/or insert an oral airway. This is a skilled manoever made more dangerous by the possibility of spreading COVID19 to staff. 4/
I think about this everytime I compile the reports to the government(s) on the operations of our site. They ask about events requiring naloxone or ones where we 'only' need to give O2. They should really be asking how often we need 'bag' someone. 5/
That would be a better measure of how strong the opioids out there might be.
Something to think about the next time you here someone say that an overdose needed multiple doses of naloxone...ask about how the client was breathing (ie, did they need assistance).
Something to think about the next time you here someone say that an overdose needed multiple doses of naloxone...ask about how the client was breathing (ie, did they need assistance).
