International overdose awareness day observed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 01 2014: Manipur Community for Empowerment (CONE) observed the International Overdose Awareness Day yesterday at Manipur press Club, Imphal.

Speaking on the occasion, CONE president RK Nalinikanta drew State Government's attention to the State's overdose issue and illegal sale of overdose management/treatment injections (Naloxone) in the State.

The management injection, he said, whose retail price in the market cost below hundred (Rs 75), are sold in the black market at an astounding rate of rs 2000-4000 per unit.

Nalinikanta further stated that many drug users have lost their lives in overdose because timely treatment was inaccessible.

Naloxone injection plays a vital role in overdose treatment and it is sold at Rs 2000-4000 per unit in the name of it being a life saving drug.

The injection of the drug can bring an overdose patient back to consciousness.

However, delay in the injection of this drug could cause serious damage to the patient.

Nalinikanta, urging the Government to treat overdose issue as a Public Health issue, stated that the Government's disregard of the issue has been indirectly abetting sale of Naloxone in the black market.

CONE has been conducting overdose management programmes at Imphal east and West district areas since the year 2013.More than 15-20 overdose cases are admitted to this NGO organisation every month.

The organisation, in turn, provides the Naloxone injection to overdose patients free of cost.

But since the organisation cannot provide for every overdose cases in future, Nalinikanta said that the Government should, therefore, come up with plans to solve the issue.

The organisation has also sought assistance from the National Rural Heath Mission who has in turn assured to come up with a suitable plan to tackle the situation, Nalinikanta informed.

Nalinikanta further elaborated on the meaning of overdose and how an overdose patient should be treated.

An overdose patient, he said, would lose consciousness and start frothing in the mouth.

An unconscious overdose patient should never be treated by sprinkling water or placing salt in their mouth, Nalinikanta warned.

They should be made to lie sidelong and should be treated with Naloxome injection within 2 hours.

Nalinikanta further informed that an overdose case is more easily detectable in the injecting drug user category.

In case of tablet users, since the effect of the drug starts slowly, the detection is more difficult and, moreover, most tablet users die in their sleep.

Overdose, he continued, happens when a large amount of drug is consumed or injected to the body.

An overdose can also happen when drugs are consumed with alcohol.

In most cases, overdose is driven by anger or such similar emotions, RK Nalinikanta informed.

Director of Health Services State Epidemiologist Dr Sashikumar Mangang and Dr Naresh graced the event as chief guest and guest of honour of the event respectively.

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