Who Is At Risk For An Opioid OverdoseUpdated 7 months ago

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Opioids are drugs that are typically used to treat pain. After opioids are taken, they bind to proteins called opioid receptors in the brain, gut, and other parts of the body. Opioids work by enhancing feelings of pleasure and blocking pain signals within the body, and these properties give them the potential to be used incorrectly or dangerously. When a person takes more opioids than their body can handle, their breathing slows, which can result in unconsciousness and even death.

What patients are at risk of opioid overdose?

Anyone who uses prescribed or street opioids can experience an opioid overdose. However, there are certain factors that may put someone at higher risk, including:

• Taking prescription opioids more frequently or at higher doses than recommended
• Taking an opioid that the body isn't accustomed to or switching to a stronger drug
• Using opioids with alcohol or sedatives, such as benzodiazepines, muscle relaxants, and sleeping pills
• Using opioids of unknown purity or strength
• Certain health conditions, such as liver disease and respiratory problems

Opioid overdoses can also happen through misuse. For example, extended-release opioid tablets are intended to be swallowed whole. If they are crushed or broken up prior to ingestion, too much of the drug is released into the body at once and an overdose can occur. Symptoms of an opioid overdose include:

• Difficulty talking, walking, or staying awake
• Blue or grey lips or nails
• Very small pupils
• Clammy and cold skin
• Extreme drowsiness
• Dizziness and confusion
• Choking, gurgling, or snoring sounds
• Slow, weak, or no breathing
• Inability to wake up, even when shaken or shouted at

It is important to call 911 or your local emergency helpline immediately if you believe someone is having an opioid overdose. Left unaddressed, opioid overdoses can very quickly lead to death. Give the person naloxone — a medication that can temporarily reverse an overdose if administered immediately — if available. Naloxone can be given to a person experiencing an overdose while you are waiting for emergency services to arrive.

What opioid causes the most overdoses?

Fentanyl can be an especially dangerous opioid as it has the potential to be fatal in very small amounts. According to Health Canada, 81% of all accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths between January 2022 and September 2022 involved fentanyl. Of all opioid-related poisoning hospitalizations during the same time, 31% involved fentanyl or fentanyl analogues (which include acetylfentanyl, butyrfentanyl, carfentanil, alfentanil, sufentanil, and remifentanil).

Where do the most opioid overdoses occur?

An opioid overdose can happen anywhere. Settings where overdoses commonly occur include private residences, hospitals, and other shared community spaces. Geographically, 87% of all accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths in Canada between January 2022 and September 2022 took place in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.

Why are opioids addictive?

Anyone who uses opioids is at risk of developing an opioid addiction. Addiction is characterized by an irresistible craving for a drug, rash and uncontrollable use of the drug, and continued use of the drug despite recurring negative consequences.

Opioids can be incredibly addictive, largely because they engage powerful reward centres in the brain. Opioid use triggers the release of endorphins, which are peptides produced by the brain that block the perception of pain and increase feelings of well-being. After the effects of an opioid dose wear off, a person may want to pursue the euphoric feelings that can arise from opioid use again as soon as possible. This can lead to misuse and overuse of opioids, which can result in addiction, overdoses, and death.

Why should you use Masimo SafetyNet?

In a normal breathing cycle, a person inhales oxygen into their lungs, which is transported to tissues via the bloodstream. The blood then carries carbon dioxide — a waste product — back to the lungs, which leaves the body when a person exhales.

During respiratory depression (also known as hypoventilation), the body can’t remove enough carbon dioxide, which can result in poor use of oxygen by the lungs. This can lead to a drop in blood oxygen levels and slow, ineffective breathing. As the condition progresses and a person’s carbon dioxide levels rise, they may experience seizures, confusion, headaches, and bluish-coloured lips, fingers, or toes.

Certain groups of people are more likely to experience respiratory depression. Risk factors for respiratory depression include obesity, neuromuscular diseases, chest wall deformities, brain injury, obstructive sleep apnea, and chronic lung disease. Respiratory depression can also occur as a side effect of taking large doses of substances that can slow down the respiratory system, such as opioids, benzodiazepines, sedatives, barbiturates, and alcohol. Respiratory depression arising from a drug overdose can result in respiratory arrest (when breathing stops completely).

Masimo SafetyNet Alert is a wireless wearable system that monitors patients’ physiological data continuously via a fingertip sensor, even during sleep. When the device detects a drop in blood oxygen levels, it issues a series of visual and audible alerts. If life-saving intervention may be required, Masimo SafetyNet Alert notifies the patient’s chosen emergency contacts. Patient data, such as oxygen saturation levels, pulse rate, respiration rate, and more, can be viewed in the Masimo SafetyNet app and shared with the user’s healthcare provider.

A 10-year study at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center found zero opioid-related preventable deaths or brain damage in hospitalized patients who were continuously monitored with Masimo SET® pulse oximetry and a notification system. Masimo SafetyNet Alert features the same clinically-proven pulse oximetry technology and a similar notification system to help patients avoid serious health incidents before they happen.

Masimo SafetyNet Alert can offer peace of mind to those who are at higher risk of experiencing respiratory depression, such as people who are taking prescription opioids.