– Drug poisoning is now the leading cause of accidental death in the United States –
Southern Manatee Fire Department and Representative Jim Boyd today announced that they have received a donation of EVZIOTM naloxone auto-injectors from kaléo, the Richmond, Virginia-based pharmaceutical company.
EVZIO became available in the United States by prescription in July 2014 and is the first and only FDA-approved naloxone product specifically indicated for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose as manifested by respiratory and/or central nervous system depression and is intended for immediate administration as emergency therapy in settings where opioids may be present, including outside of supervised medical settings. Nearly 17,000 Americans die each year from prescription opioid overdose or unintended drug poisoning and has surpassed automobile collisions as the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S.
Opioid overdose can cause a person’s breathing to severely slow down and even stop.
EVZIO is a pre-filled, single-use, hand-held auto-injector that works by temporarily blocking the effect of an opioid potentially reversing the life-threatening respiratory depression and allowing the recipient to breathe more regularly until advanced emergency medical treatment arrives. EVZIO is not a substitute for emergency medical care. Each EVZIO device uses voice and visual cues to assist in guiding the user through the process and delivers a single 0.4 mg dose of naloxone.
“The rising number of overdose deaths from opioid-based prescription drugs and heroin is one of the top concerns for our community,” said Chief Brian Gorski of Southern Manatee Fire Rescue District. “This new product delivers a potentially life-saving dose of naloxone via a simple to use auto-injector system that is easy to carry and administer to someone experiencing an opioid overdose.”
“We are pleased to be making this donation as a part of our commitment to widen access to naloxone,” said T. Spencer Williamson, CEO of kaléo. “We are honored to support the outstanding efforts of the first responder community to help save the lives of those who are experiencing an opioid overdose.”
“With this donation, we will have an opportunity to make a real difference in the fight against unintentional drug poisoning and overdose related deaths.” said Representative Boyd.
Te Bradenton Herald’s article about this can be found by clicking here