Over the past decades, America has continued to fight to put an end to the Opioid Crisis, one of the biggest health crises our country has experienced in a long, long time. However, thanks to the efforts of government officials and hospitals, doctors and emergency personnel are now permitted to carry a drug called Naloxone (brand name Narcan) to help people who have suffered from opioid-related overdoses. In part, the drug (administered nasally or intravenously) can completely reverse the effects of dangerous substances like heroin and force people to breath normally. So, would you ever imagine that a nurse would be denied life insurance for carrying this lifesaving medication? As bizarre as that sounds, this incident recently happened to a woman who works at a treatment facility in Boston, Massachusetts. Let’s take a closer look at this unfortunate situation and find out more.
Lifesaving Drug Results in Major Backlash
Recently, when a nurse named Isela applied for life insurance, the organization denied her application due to the fact that, through an unusual set of circumstances, a certain section of her records showed she uses drugs. So where did this problem arise? Simply put, Isela, who works with an addiction treatment program at the Boston Medical Center, has been certified to carry naloxone to help opioid addicts enrolled in the system. According to reports, some insurance companies have a difficulty distinguishing between a person who carries naloxone to save lives and a person who carries this drug in case they suffer an overdose. In other words, the insurance company believed Isela fell into the second category due to a huge misunderstanding.
One of Many Incidences
According to Dr. Alex Walley (associated professor of medicine at Boston University), Isela’s case is just one of many incidences involving Naloxone. While medical professionals want addicts or recovering addicts to have this drug to reverse an overdose, Walley also explained that the medical officers should also carry this substance to provide immediate aid to addicts, but this can be a major problem. As a result of this incident, Isela and other nurses are no longer carrying naloxone kits in the workplace, which could spell danger for recovering drug users.
Always remember that drugs do not have control over your life. You do. Are you suffering from a substance use disorder or a severe form of addiction? Do you have a friend or family member suffering from one or more of these debilitating illnesses? If you do, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our counselors and healthcare experts are ready to walk you through every step of the detox and withdrawal process and rehabilitation and guide you towards living a happier, healthier, and freer lifestyle. While the road to recovery might not be an easy road to travel, we promise to help you every step of the way. Take the first step to stay fit, healthy, and safe.
The time for you to take back control of your life is now. If you are interested in one of our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how to overcome your drug abuse or addiction troubles today.
