Management of Opioid Analgesic Overdose
HESC-500 Statistic Applied
Clinical Research
INTRODUCTION
Opioids are chemical substances that act on opioid receptors in the human brain to decrease pain intensity levels up to zero.
Some legal opioids are : Fentanyl, Opiate, Tramadol, and Oxycodone.
Some illegal opioids are : Heroin and opium.
They are commonly used for pain relieve.
Opioids could dangerous for human health if the amount introduced into the body reaches higher levels beyond what the body can metabolize.
Objectives
The public should be aware of the potential dangers of opioids use and The Public Health Departments should remain vigilant for reports of adverse health effects from opioids use so that they can manage overdoses more readily and monitor the effectiveness of prevention efforts.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Comparative Research between natural opioids (Heroin-opiate) and Synthetic Opioid Overdose(Fentanyl).
Type of study: Descriptive Study
Methods:
CDC’s Injury Center (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) looks at deaths due to overdoses for two categories of opioids:
Synthetic opioids, specifically Fentanyl that can come in different dosage forms like Patches, IV, Sprays, and Lozenges. This type of Opioid is medically prescribed to relieve pain.
Natural Opioids, specifically Heroin, an illicit (illegally made) opioid synthesized from morphine that can be a white or brown powder, or a black sticky substance. This type of opioid (opiate) is used recreationally.
Methods:
Heroin Overdose Data
In 2018, nearly 15,000 people died from a heroin overdose in the United States, a rate of almost 5 deaths for every 100,000 Americans. However, also in 2018, heroin-involved overdose death rates showed a decline, decreasing 4.1% from 2017 to 2018.
Reductions occurred among males and females, persons aged 15–34 years, non-Hispanic whites.
METHODS.
Synthetic Opioid Overdose (Fentanyl)
In 2018, more than 31,000 deaths involving synthetic opioids (Fentanyl) occurred in the United States, which is more deaths than from any other type of opioid. Synthetic opioid-involved death rates increased by 10% from 2017 to 2018 and accounted for 67% of opioid-involved deaths in 2018 in the United States of America.
The highest synthetic opioid-involved death rate in 2018 occurred in West Virginia (34.0 per 100,000).
METHODS;
Opioid overdose symptoms:
Heroin (natural), or fentanyl(synthetic) can cause life-threatening symptoms such as respiratory depression, reduced heart rate, slurred speech, drowsiness, and constricted pupils. If untreated, this can progress to vomiting, absent pulse and breathing, loss of consciousness, and even death.
Method;
Naloxone is an Opioid antagonist and is the drug of choice that is used for rapid reversal of Synthetic and non-Synthetic Opioid overdose. Naloxone hydrochloride can be administered via intranasal, intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous injection (including naloxone autoinjector).
An alternative to Naloxone is :
Buprenorphine (better known as the active ingredient in Suboxone) ,but the drug’s unique properties should also make us consider using it instead of naloxone to reverse opioid overdose.
Results
A nation-wide study found that more than 80% of Synthetic and natural opioids overdose reversals with naloxone in the U.S. were carried out successfully.
Decreases in heroin-involved overdose deaths were seen in 2018, but the number of heroin-involved overdose deaths was still more than 7 times higher in 2018 than in 1999 in the United States of America.
Rates for Synthetic Opioid Overdose increased from 2017 to 2018 among males and females, persons 25 years and older, non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks, Hispanics, non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islanders
RESULTS
100% of patients showing signs of respiratory depression due to opioid overdose were administered NALOXONE.
Less than 10% of people worldwide in need of such treatment are receiving it.
Lifetime prevalence of witnessed overdose among opioid users is about 70%..
DATA ANALYSIS
Text Analysis was performed using the available data base on internet, literature, and other materials.
Diagnostic Analysis was performed based on experience.
Prescriptive analysis was performed to obtain a plan of action in case the case of an opioid overdose using the already lived-registered experience of previous patients that had suffer opioids overdosage.
CONCLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE
This study indicates that the use of opioid may provide relieve to pain and improve life quality, but it can be mortal as well if not used with caution.
Having control of the amount of daily Opioid consumed is very important to avoid overdosage.
Opioids overdose can cause harmful side effects including death.
Population under the chronic use of Opioids should be awarded of the Naloxone use in case of overdose.
References
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