Strategies to Optimize Control of Opioid Overdose in the Hospital & Community Settings

Despite healthcare workers’ efforts to care for individuals who misuse opioids in the emergency settings, more interventions and resources need to be identified for these individuals and their families to sustain a better quality of life in all settings. This study is geared toward finding research of existing literature for effective methods on controlling and ceasing opioid overdoses in the hospital and community settings. This topic is extremely important because the number of overdoses across the nation are consistently rising. This review will highlight the statistics behind drug overdose and the many interventions out there to help in the cessation and management of this epidemic. The idea is to manage opioid misuse and provide resources to patients to prevent death and other serious medical complications. This study will explore the nursing aspect of drug overdosing and misuse as well as shed light on the many interventions that are offered throughout the community to flatten the curve on opioid overdoses and deaths. During research, resources such as counseling; peer support groups; public access to Narcan training; safe injection site; and continuing education requirements for nurses all proved to be useful resources in flattening the curve of this epidemic. Other useful nursing implications included risk assessments and wide ranging use of the nursing process.B.S. (Bachelor of Science