Narcan Weaponized: Homeless San Francisco Residents Turning Lifesaver Into Tool of Harm

https://www.zerohedge.com/mark...-lifesaver-tool-harm

Narcan, the overdose-reversal drug hailed as a lifesaver, is now being weaponized against San Francisco’s drug users, , according to ABC 7.

The San Francisco Standard, in a report shared by ABC7 News, details how some residents frustrated with open drug use are allegedly using Narcan not to save lives, but to inflict harm.

"A couple of instances I heard was someone was sleeping in U.N. Plaza and they basically felt somebody putting this plastic nozzle up their nose and then they woke up to crazy withdrawals and the person was telling them that they couldn't sleep in the plaza," said SF Standard reporter David Sjoestedt. "And, the allegation is that this wasn't somebody who thought they were overdosing, it was somebody who wanted them to move."

Sjoestedt explained that Narcan can trigger immediate and severe withdrawal symptoms: “a lot of pain, anxiety, throwing up, and wild temperature fluctuations.” A UCSF health expert told the SF Standard that misusing the drug in this way should be considered assault.

ABC writes that the city’s Department of Public Health reaffirmed Narcan’s intended use: it should only be administered if someone appears to be overdosing. Using it to deliberately cause suffering, the department stressed, is “inhumane.”

And of course, the disturbing misuse of Narcan in San Francisco underscores a broader failure of the city’s liberal policies, which have poured resources into harm reduction without addressing the root causes of addiction, homelessness, and public safety. Instead of creating real solutions, officials have enabled an environment where even life-saving tools are twisted into instruments of cruelty—leaving both residents and vulnerable addicts caught in the chaos of a city unraveling.

That's fantastic. I fully support this!

I think this would be considered assault as the effects of Narcan can be life threatening,

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
I think this would be considered assault as the effects of Narcan can be life threatening,

Nice to know.

So if someone is passed out and you might think they are overdosing you would be a fool to use it, unless it is your immediate family.

They or their families will sue the shit out of you.

Oh, no! Anyway. Maybe go be a panhandler/junkie/thief/assailant somewhere else.

This is what societal collapse looks like.

That’s plain ignorant if not criminal. Sounds like something a leftist idiot would resort to. An actual emergency is one thing. That sounds like assault.

Well, this is interesting.
Considering I have been issued Narcan for YEARS now and every training I have been to says there ARE ZERO negative effects if the nasal NARCAN is administered to someone not experiencing an overdose or currently under the influence of opioids.

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
Well, this is interesting.
Considering I have been issued Narcan for YEARS now and every training I have been to says there ARE ZERO negative effects if the nasal NARCAN is administered to someone not experiencing an overdose or currently under the influence of opioids.

That’s been my understanding as well. To my knowledge the only two types of drugs where withdrawal can cause life threatening complications are alcohol and benzodiazepines. I’ve been told by several doctors that using narcan on a heroin addict and forcing them essentially into withdrawal will make them wish they were dead but will not cause any life threatening side effects.

A quick internet search leads to conflicting info. Although it does say it can trigger potential life threatening withdrawal symptoms in persons without opioids in their system. Still sounds like it could be considered assault.

quote:

...every training I have been to says there ARE ZERO negative effects if the nasal NARCAN is administered to someone not experiencing an overdose or currently under the influence of opioids.

I've been taught the same.

quote:

Originally posted by 400m:
Although it does say it can trigger potential life threatening withdrawal symptoms in persons without opioids in their system. Still sounds like it could be considered assault.

Well, the doctors at the rehab I worked at told me otherwise. I was told what Lt CHEG said, that only withdrawal from alcohol and benzos can be fatal. You'll wish you were dying if you're withdrawing from opiates, but it won't actually do that to you.

quote:

Originally posted by 400m:
That’s plain ignorant if not criminal. Sounds like something a leftist idiot would resort to. An actual emergency is one thing. That sounds like assault.

Did you watch the video? They said people are getting sick of addicts laying in their doorways and are starting to take matters into their own hands.

If they had a functioning government that did not allow such things they would not have to resort to putting Narcan up their nose.

We were issued that exact 4mg dose container for ODs when we ran across them as police/first responders. I learned very quickly that you don’t give them the whole dose. It’ll wake em up and they wanna fight because you ruined their high. Or you cuff them while they’re out, then dose em.

EMS buddy of mine said to squirt half on their chest then give them the rest, keeps them alive, then they can transport them to the ER and treat them w/o a fight.

The problem w/narcan is that it is short lived-if you dose someone and 30 minutes later it burns out the underlying opiate is still there and comes back to the forefront. Which is why you can’t just dose em and leave them.

https://www.drugs.com/monograp...e-hydrochloride.html

quote:

Precipitation of Severe Opioid Withdrawal
May precipitate severe opioid withdrawal symptoms. Abrupt postoperative reversal of opioid effects may result in nausea, vomiting, sweating, tremor, tachycardia, hypotension, hypertension, seizures, ventricular tachycardia/ fibrillation, pulmonary edema, and cardiac arrest, which may result in death.

Administer with caution to patients known or suspected to be physically dependent on opioids (including neonates born to women who are opioid dependent), particularly in patients with cardiovascular disease. (See Use in Patients with Cardiovascular Disorders under Cautions.)

I thought that was a photo but I just watched the video. It’s a shitty situation for sure. It still doesn’t justify the action.

maybe the dealers doing this?

those guys gonna need another fix.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
The problem w/narcan is that it is short lived-if you dose someone and 30 minutes later it burns out the underlying opiate is still there and comes back to the forefront. Which is why you can’t just dose em and leave them.

Here we can’t force them to seek medical treatment once they are alert and awake. So we let them know what can happen and roll all the time.
They very very rarely want to be transported.

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
They very very rarely want to be transported.

My very first heroin OD in the field was a colostomy-bagged long-term user with a history of ODing.

The lead paramedic nailed him with an amp of NARCAN IV, which woke him up, and the very first thing this dude said was "I don't wanna go to da hospital."

We then gave him another amp of NARCAN IM to reduce the likelihood we'd be returning, plus it ruined his high.

So the guy potentially saving a junkie's life goes to jail and is sued into bankruptcy, to enable the junkie to go on destroying his life, and the lives of those family members and other associates?

Not seeing the logic here.