The Biden administration announced today that it is launching a media marketing blitz to promote the fentanyl overdose drug naloxone.
The national campaign — part of a $46 billion crackdown on the fentanyl epidemic — will target youth through social media videos and digital billboards.
It will use online influencers such as college athletes and lifestyle content creators to urge people to keep the nasal spray handy in case they or a friend overdoses.
The campaign’s seven-word tagline reads, “Wear naloxone. You could save a life.’ It comes after a record 75,000 Americans died of a fentanyl overdose in 2022, the equivalent of 1,500 American lives lost each week.
But the new campaign has sparked a wave of criticism from lawmakers and other opponents who have accused the government of placing the blame on young Americans rather than cracking down on border controls and drug dealers.
Florida Gators football star Clifford Taylor IV promoted Narcan on his Instagram as part of the new social media blitz
This ad is one of many that will appear on college campuses and in bars and restaurants.
Narcan, the brand name for naloxone, is a nasal spray that has been shown to quickly reverse an opioid overdose by blocking the path of fentanyl to the brain
Fentanyl, a highly addictive synthetic opioid, is causing a massacre in the streets of Portland, Oregon. The drug has flowed into the US, initially along the East Coast, but the strongest increases are now seen in the West
“The fentanyl crisis in America has gotten so bad that DC is now dispensing Narcan and fentanyl test strips into vending machines.
Biden and the Democrats have the means to end this crisis, but refuse to lift a finger.
Our border must be secured. Now,” Arizona Republican Representative Andy Biggs wrote on Twitter.
Fentanyl, streaming into the US from Mexico and China, has become the leading cause of death for those aged 18 to 49, surpassing gun and car accidents.
The NIH estimated fentanyl-related deaths among young people have increased by 182 percent between 2019 and 2021.
The powerful synthetic opioid is 50 times stronger than heroin and 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. It is used by doctors for patients with severe pain or terminal illnesses.
It’s cheap, highly addictive, relatively easy to smuggle into the US, and cost-effective for dealers to mix it into their stock, which saves them money and can prolong or boost the high users experience.
The Biden administration’s new campaign has sparked a wave of criticism from lawmakers and other opponents who have accused the administration of placing the blame on young Americans rather than cracking down on border controls and drug dealers.
The number of deaths from fentanyl in the US increased sharply in the 2010s. At the beginning of the decade, 2,666 Americans died of fentanyl overdose. This figure rose to 19,413 in 2016. Covid made the situation even worse, with a record 72,484 deaths recorded in 2021, followed by another record 75,000 deaths last year
Narcan is administered nasally and comes in a single dose. This image shows how to give it to someone suspected of overdosing
According to US Customs and Border Protection, the vast majority of fentanyl enters the US through legal gateways, in vehicles
But it takes a negligibly small dose of fentanyl to cause a fatal overdose. Just two milligrams, the equivalent of five grains of salt, is enough to cause death.
Because it is incorporated into other popular medications, many people who die from overdoses do not know they are taking fentanyl.
The drug is partly responsible for America’s sharp decline in life expectancy over the past three years. It’s now in everything from cocaine to molly and street benzodiazepines like Xanax.
Narcan, the brand name for naloxone, is a nasal spray that has been shown to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose by blocking the opioid’s path to the brain, reversing adverse effects such as hypoventilation.
When Narcan is inhaled, the drug is absorbed through the mucous membranes in the nose, allowing it to enter the bloodstream quickly.
From there, it travels to the brain and blocks the drug’s attachment to the brain’s receptors.
It has been shown to prevent fatal overdoses of fentanyl, as well as drugs such as oxycodone and heroin.
Narcan comes in a single dose, so if someone needs multiple doses, a new container should be used.
The drug was initially produced in India and China and shipped to recipients in North America. Since then, makeshift laboratories have sprung up in Mexico to receive the precursor chemicals from Asia, mix them or crush them into pills and smuggle them into the US
The fentanyl crisis has contributed to the sharp decline in American life expectancy in recent years. Americans now live an average of 76.4 years, up from 78.8 years in 2019. In the UK, which like the US suffered from the Covid pandemic but is not experiencing a fentanyl crisis, life expectancy has increased slightly from 81.3 years in 2019 to 81.52 years in 2021.
Narcan has an extremely high success rate. a study of Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that 94 percent of people who received naloxone survived their overdose.
In a study from Harm Reduction Journal, more than 90 percent of participants feared that a single box of Narcan would not be enough for a successful reversal. However, 95 percent of overdose cases were prevented.
It was approved by the FDA last month for over-the-counter use, meaning it will be available everywhere — from vending machines to big box stores — by the end of the summer.
The Narcan manufacturer has not specified an exact price for the drug, but estimates range from $22 to $141, depending on location and insurance. It can be sold in packs of one or two.
Biden’s drug czar Dr. Rahul Gupta, who launched the public health campaign today, said: ‘We know that the majority of adolescent overdose deaths involved one or more bystanders, which is why today’s announcement is so crucial – we meet young people where they should be prevent drug poisoning caused by illegal fentanyl and make sure they know how to save a life with Naloxone.
This campaign builds on President Biden’s government-wide approach to defeating the overdose epidemic by working to bring naloxone into all communities and dismantle drug trafficking operations that produce deadly substances like fentanyl.
“Our message is simple: naloxone is a drug that can reverse opioid overdose, it’s easy to use, and it’s available without a prescription in all 50 states.
“Even if young people or their friends are not on drugs, carrying Naloxone can help them save a life in the event of an overdose.”
In addition to social media, the campaign will also place ads in locations such as college campuses, bars, restaurants and gas stations.
In the 12 months ending August 2022, emergency medical services responded to 396,312 activations nationwide involving Narcan use.
Narcan still incurs costs in many locations. It may be covered by insurance, but coverage depends on the specific plan. You may need prior approval before the insurance will cover this. While it won’t be available over the counter until the end of summer, it can be purchased from a pharmacist in all 50 states.
Coupons and Narcan dispensing utilities may be used depending on insurance coverage.