June 24, 2019
In the United States, 47,000 people died in 2017 from an overdose related to opiates. The situation in France worries doctors while 12 million French people consume it.
Overdose cases in the United States alert French doctors
In a column published in the Sunday Newspaper, on June 23, a hundred doctors and health professionals warned about the risks of overdose and addiction to opiates. They feel there is an emergency when 12 million French people consume opiate drugs.
According to doctors, ” France could in turn run the risk of a health crisis ”. They note that opioid-related hospitalizations have doubled and deaths tripled. It should be remembered that in 2017, 47,000 people died in the United States from an overdose linked to opiates.
An antidote based on naloxone
An antidote, naloxone stops the action of opiates. This substance is a pure morphine receptor antagonist with little risk of serious side effects. A loved one can quickly inject this product to the patient suffering from an overdose in order to combat the harmful effects of opioids. However, this product is generally reserved for professionals working in addiction and used in cases of acute intoxication with opioids.
Doctors regret that there is not more information and communication around naloxone. They advocate train and sensitize doctors to this antidote and ” to launch a vast prevention campaign “. By promoting access to naloxone, people at risk of opioid overdose could be saved.
Stephanie Haerts
Read also : Ecstasy: effects and dangers on health
