Opioid drug overdose during the COVID-19 pandemic

DELAWARE – There’s a new health concern during the coronavirus pandemic. How do you safely save someone’s life whose suffering from a drug overdose while preventing the spread of COVID-19?

When responding to an overdose the person administrating the naloxone typically has to attempt rescue breathing first.

Even if they don’t do that they’re still coming into close contact with another person who may or may not have the virus.

The state’s Division of Public Health says although they’re providing face coverings in their pouches for people that still does not guarantee coronavirus prevention.

However, health officials say they anticipate that a lot of the rescues are mostly being done on family members, which lowers the risk of spread.

“We anticipate that a lot of the rescues that we are teaching folks to do might be done on family members or loved ones where the risk, where the fear of viral transmission is not quite as maybe prevalent,” said Kate Brookins, director of the Office of Health Crisis Response at the Delaware Division of Public Health.

We’re told the Division of Public Health will be providing their free naxolone kits at a drive-up overdose prevention training this Friday at the Brandywine Milford parking lot. For more details about this training, click here.