Jodi Barber has dedicated her life to fighting the opioid epidemic after losing her son to an overdose in 2010. She emphasizes the preventability of overdose deaths, as tens of thousands of lives have been lost to fentanyl-related overdoses since her son’s passing.
The Biden administration has allocated funds for overdose prevention, including increased distribution of Narcan, the standard opioid reversal drug. However, some law enforcement agencies are now using Opvee, a new nasal spray reversal drug, which has been approved for use by the FDA in 2023.
A study funded by the drugmaker Opiant Pharmaceuticals and the Department of Health and Human Services showed that a smaller dose of Opvee reversed respiratory depression, a major symptom of overdose, more effectively and quickly than Narcan. Body camera footage from Oakland County Sheriff Deputy Allie Michaels demonstrates the effectiveness of Opvee, showing a woman regaining consciousness after receiving it.
Although Opvee may be more effective, it has a longer lifespan in the body and more potential side effects. It is available by prescription, while Narcan is available over the counter. Barber emphasizes the importance of making these life-saving drugs accessible to those in need.
The opioid crisis continues to impact countless lives, but the development of new and more effective overdose reversal drugs like Opvee brings hope for saving lives and combating this epidemic.
