Role of Addiction specialists in prevention of Opioid overdose deaths
Joint Event on 3rd International Conference on Spine and Spine Disorders & International Conference on Addiction Research and Therapy
November 26-27, 2018 | Dubai, UAE
Jaswinder Singh Gandhi
Amrit Drug Deaddiction and Research Foundation, India
Scientific Tracks Abstracts : J Neurol Neurorehabil Res
Abstract:
Recently there has been epidemic of Opioid use disorders in certain parts of world and hence the mortality associated with Opioid overdose. Different studies show that Opioid overdose is generally witnessed, death takes a while and is generally due to respiratory failure. Addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder where even a recovering patient can relapse anytime and die of Opioid overdose. Because many OUD patients come to addiction specialist for treatment, these physicians can play a major role in reducing the mortality of OUD by educating the patients and their Significant Others against Opioid overdose and prescribing Naloxone to them in addition to other addiction medicines. They can keep Naloxone at a safe place and use it in case they witness an Opioid overdose and save a life. Naloxone a pure Opioid antagonist is very safe, reliable, cheap, easily available and fast acting drug. Naloxone causes reversal of sedation and respiratory depression associated with Opioid Overdose within minutes and it has no side effect of its own even in higher doses. Recently newer preparation of Naloxone in form of Nasal Spray (Narcan) has been approved by FDA to prevent overdose deaths. In some developed countries Naloxone Dispensing program is being practiced widely and they have been able to minimize the mortality associated with Opioid overdose. Also, there is Good Samaritan law being implemented in these countries where even a layman can give Naloxone in case of witnessed Opioid overdose. Unfortunately, in certain parts of world including India there is yet no hold of OEND even in tertiary health care centers. As an addiction specialist certified by ISAM, in last four years I have been able to save 14 patients in emergency with Naloxone who were brought to me with Opioid overdose respiratory depression
Biography:
Jaswinder Singh Gandhi is working with an NGO “Amrit Drug De-addiction and Research Foundation”. He has 15 years’ experience in drug de addiction field with more than 2500 patients. He is a member of various national and international Institutions which are working on drug de-addiction namely ASAM, NAADAC, ISAM, IPS, IMA, ISA, ISCCM, ISSM. In addition to a MBBS and MD degree, he is certified by ISAM (International Society of Addiction Medicine) in substance use disorders scoring 82% marks. ISAM is funded by World Health Organization and NIDA(USA). He has attended many national and International Conferences (Netherlands, Germany, Australia, Spain, Malaysia, Thailand) and has presented his research works on de-addiction. Recently he presented his work in WPA conference held at Madrid (Spain) and IPS conference at Hyderabad and AIIMS New Delhi. His research papers have been published in International journals of repute with high impact factor. He is a reviewer of Buprenorphine website “Buppractice” which has trained more than 3000 doctors, and which is funded entirely by SAMHSA (American Govt.). He has won 3000 US Dollars fellowship award at ISAM 2013 conference held at Kuala lumpur where more than 1000 doctors from 100 countries of the world had participated. In year 2014 he has been nominated for prestigious “Voice” awards of SAMHSA (American Govt.) He has been given state award on 15 August 2015 by Govt. for his services in field of Drug de-addiction. He has developed an interactive software “SANTAM” helping patients as well as physicians in diagnosis and treatment of Substance Use Disorder. This software is first of its kind in Punjabi. This software is available for free download. This software has been translated in many languages and at present being used at premier mental health institute NIMHANS, Bangalore. In addition, his articles and stories are being published regularly in various leading newspapers, magazines and International Journals of repute. He is appearing regularly on Television and Radio shows for live interactive talk against drug addiction.
E-mail: jaswinder1968@hotmail.com
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