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Fact: An Opioid overdose causes a reduction in the central nervous system and the respiratory drive, as a result the patient becomes unresponsive and hypoxic. When we “wake” them up with Naloxone – which temporarily reverses the effects of the opioid overdose – the patient quite suddenly becomes hyper-oxygenated and alert and is surrounded by strangers.
What would your natural reaction be? Self defense until you know you are safe – hence the combative state. This can be avoided with education and training of the rescuers.
Fact: An uncontrolled opioid withdrawal is very unpleasant and can result in the person experiencing a wide range of very uncomfortable and sickening symptoms but death is not an inevitable result of an opioid withdrawal.
Fact: A chronic alcoholic quite often requires a medical detox (withdrawal management) process. There is a 10 to 15% mortality rate associated with a chronic alcoholic’s uncontrolled withdrawal process.
Fact: An addicted individual will not change until the people closest to them take action and motive them into treatment. Individuals who enter into treatment programs without a strong support network are more likely to not succeed.
