> Narcan is extremely potent. While our LE and EMTs carry IN (nasal) Narcan, our Medical Director actually prefers us to gently titrate IV Narcan while providing airway management and ventilation. His perspective is that 1) that makes life a lot easier for everyone involved, because sometimes those patients "come up swinging", and 2) there's a hope that if even a few per cent of those patients are gently roused by the time they get to the ER, they may be more willing to consider addiction help.
Sorry, can you explain this a bit more? Why would a patient who wakes up more gently be more willing to consider addiction help?
Probably not because it's more gentle in itself. More that the experience isn't immediately "antagonistic" with law enforcement presence, the sudden rush of being brought out of the narcotic stupor (well, respiratory depression), in a often less-than-ideal environment.
To be very real, most people that we get to the ER and they take over bringing up the Narcan until that respiratory drive kicks back in (kinda a sleepy morning wakeup feeling), will still AMA and leave. But some may consider or talk about it a bit. And maybe there's a more positive longer term outcome.
Sorry, can you explain this a bit more? Why would a patient who wakes up more gently be more willing to consider addiction help?