9 chapters across the catalog
FDA Panel Recommends Over-the-Counter Narcan Sales
An FDA advisory panel unanimously recommended that the opioid overdose reversal drug Narcan be made available over the counter. The experts agreed that the nasal spray version is safe for use by the general public without a prescription. This move aims to combat the ongoing opioid crisis by increasing the immediate availability of life-saving medication.
Daniel Prude Death, Spit Hoods, Excited Delirium
The death of Daniel Prude in police custody has been reported as a "suffocation" caused by a hood placed on his head. However, the device used was a standard "spit hood" designed to protect officers and EMTs from biohazards. Toxicology reports suggest Prude may have died from complications related to drug use and "excited delirium," a state often encountered by first responders dealing with overdoses.
Licking County Ohio Opioid Billboard Campaign
Licking County, Ohio, has launched a billboard campaign to distribute free Naloxone kits to combat the heroin epidemic. The hosts argue that providing anti-overdose drugs is a "band-aid" solution that fails to address the underlying causes of the addiction crisis.
Surgeon General Jerome Adams, Opioid Crisis Strategy
U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams discussed the administration's strategy to combat the opioid epidemic, focusing on the widespread distribution of the overdose-reversal drug Naloxone (Narcan). Congress has approved $6 billion in funding, with $50 million specifically for Naloxone. Adams is working with pharmaceutical companies like Adapt Pharma to ensure that cost is not a barrier to access for insured and uninsured individuals.
Naloxone, Opioid Overdose, Baltimore Health Department
The Baltimore City Health Department and other agencies are promoting Naloxone as a critical tool to reverse opioid overdoses. Dr. Lena Wen appears in promotional materials framing addiction as a disease that requires immediate medical intervention. The discussion touches on the relationship between public health departments and the manufacturers of overdose-reversal medications.
The discussion covers the partnership between Adapt Pharma and the Clinton Foundation to distribute Narcan (Naloxone) to high schools. A former drug user provides a perspective on why Narcan does not necessarily encourage new heroin use, emphasizing that addicts often resent being saved.
The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department is equipping 3,000 deputies with Naloxone, branded as Narcan, to combat the opioid epidemic. Concerns are raised that the aggressive marketing and over-the-counter availability of nasal spray Narcan may inadvertently propagate heroin use by removing the fear of overdose. Adapt Pharma is identified as the manufacturer benefiting from the unrelenting media promotion of the product.
Naloxone Price Gouging and Generic Drug Costs
The price of Naloxone, a generic drug used to reverse opioid overdoses, has seen massive increases, with some products jumping over 500% in price. The hosts discuss how a medication that once cost less than a dollar is now being sold in auto-injectors for thousands of dollars. They characterize this as "scandalous" price gouging by pharmaceutical companies during a public health crisis.
Naloxone Overdose Treatment, Meth Complications and Flakka
The hosts discuss the use of Naloxone (Narcan) by first responders to reverse heroin overdoses. They share an anecdote from a firefighter who dislikes the drug because patients often wake up in a violent, meth-fueled rage. The segment also touches on the rise of the synthetic drug "Flakka" in Florida and its bizarre effects on users.
