Instagram story viewer> @taco.ecu> Posts

Team Awareness Combating Overdose

@taco.ecu

undefined

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Download All

‼️ How does it work:Narcan ⁉️

Narcan, or naloxone, is a competitive antagonist of opioids primarily used to reverse opioid overdose. It is commonly found, and distributed by TACO via our Narcan Training Program, in a nasal spray form. Opioids are any drug that activate opioid receptors in the brain. 🧠

Common opioids include heroin, fentanyl, hydrocodone, oxycodone, and methadone. Opioid overdose is highly dangerous as opioid receptors mediate respiratory depression. Thus, overstimulation of these receptors during an opioid overdose can cause people to stop breathing. Narcan functions by clearing and binding to opioid receptors, preventing opioids from binding to their receptors. Narcan does not activate these receptors, it acts like a key that is not meant for that door, it can fit in the lock but cannot unlock (or activate) it. 🔐

While Narcan is very useful for the reversal of overdose caused by opioids, it is not effective for overdose caused by other substances. This is because Narcan only affects opioid receptors, and does not affect other important receptors found in the brain such as dopaminergic and adrenergic receptors 🧬🧬

Narcan will not reverse cocaine overdose because cocaine does not interact with opioid receptors. Instead, cocaine prevents the reuptake of neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. Cocaine overdose is a result of overstimulation of adrenergic receptors due to the prolonged presence of norepinephrine. This will result in increased heart rate and blood pressure and may result in adverse effects including heart attack. 🫀🩸

The good news is that Narcan has little to no harmful effects! This means that if you think someone is undergoing an opioid overdose but are not sure, it is still safe to use Narcan. If you suspect someone is overdosing call EMS and administer Narcan if the scene is safe and you are able Even if the Narcan works and the symptoms are alleviated it is still important to seek medical attention. Narcan is only effective for approximately 60-90 minutes, shorter than effective times of most opioids. When in doubt, use Narcan and contact EMS. 🚑🚨
#neuroscience #tacotuesday #safety by @taco.ecu

14

0

a year ago

It’s the start of spring break for ECU students! The opioid overdose triad is a great thing to know to identify an opioid overdose!!

Know the signs and how to respond, have a safe spring break 🌴 taken in East Carolina University by @taco.ecu

12

0

a year ago

the next 60 seconds you’re going to learn how to save a life from a fentanyl overdose:

Yes
⭐YOU⭐
Let’s go

1️⃣CHECK FOR THE SIGNS. Is the person:
Not breathing?
Not conscious?
Their pupils are tiny / don’t react to light?

If the answer to all 3 is yes, or just the last one is- it’s an opioid overdose. Probably from fentanyl.

2️⃣CALL 911
Say there’s a “medical emergency” and it’s an overdose

Ideally, ask someone else to call while you move onto Step 3

3️⃣GIVE THEM NARCAN (naloxone)
Any form will do: nose spray or injectable

4️⃣SET A TIMER FOR 2 MIN
Now you’re waiting to see if the Narcan works
If they start breathing + wake up any time in those 2 minutes, skip to Step 6

If they don’t wake up…

5️⃣GIVE MORE NALOXONE
And set another 2 min timer
Again, wait to see if it works
If it does, skip to step 6

6️⃣a) CONGRATULATIONS YOU SAVED THEIR LIFE!!

6️⃣b) RECOVERY POSITION
Lay them on their left side
Put their hand under the side of their head like a pillow
Bend the top knee over the other leg so they won’t roll over

It helps lower nausea and prevent vomiting (can come with the rapid comedown from a high dose of an opioid they’re currently in)

7️⃣WAIT FOR AMBULANCE
You already called before!
Medics are on their way, should be arriving in the next 10 minutes

Just do your best to make sure the person gets onto the ambulance so medics can take over on making sure they’re okay

THAT’S IT ⭐YOU KNOW HOW TO SAVE A LIFE⭐ by @taco.ecu

13

0

3 months ago

🧠⚡ Meth is a strong drug that speeds up the brain and body 🥴

🔥💥 It causes a big rush of “feel-good” chemicals in the brain, which can make people feel very happy, awake, and full of energy 😁

💊🧪 Meth can come as powder, crystals, or fake pills and is often smoked, snorted, or injected 💉

⏱️⚠️ The way it is used changes how fast it hits the brain and how strong the effects feel 🚀

🧬⚡ Meth floods the brain with dopamine, which controls reward and pleasure, making it very addictive 🔁

❤️📈 In the short term, it can raise heart rate and blood pressure and cause anxiety, paranoia, or hallucinations 😨

🚑❗ Taking too much can lead to overdose, which can be deadly ☠️

🦷⚠️ Long-term use can cause serious damage like tooth decay, weight loss, heart problems, and trouble breathing 😷

🧠💔 It can also damage brain cells, leading to depression, memory problems, and even diseases like Parkinson’s 😞

⚠️🧨 Because it strongly affects the brain and lasts a long time, meth is one of the most dangerous and addictive drugs ❌

#whateverenistthat #taco #drugawareness #stayinformed #education by @taco.ecu

5

0

3 months ago

Pirates!!!!! 🏴‍☠️💛

You continue to show up and show OUT for combating overdose, and we could not be more proud or thankful!! We had such an amazing turnout for our awareness walk and loved seeing all of your faces 🫶

Happy National Public Health Week!! You truly make a difference every single day 🌎✨

Join us for our next meeting on April 21st — we’d love to see you there! by @taco.ecu

40

1

4 months ago

🌮 Happy Taco Tuesday, Pirates!!! 🌮

We’ve got TWO big upcoming events and we’d love to see you there!!

👟 Run/Walk Event – Come out and move with us! You’ll get a FREE raffle ticket for a chance to win some awesome goodies 👀

🍦 Percentage Night at Sweet Frog (No Weight Wednesday!) – That means you can load up on as much frozen yogurt as you want without paying extra 😍 Just mention TACO at checkout to support our cause!

Bring your friends, show up, and help us make an impact 💙
#PiratesCare #TACOCrew #NoWeightWednesday by @taco.ecu

22

1

4 months ago

❓Ever heard of the term “trip sitting”? It’s more common and more important than you might think. A trip sitter is a trusted, sober individual who stays present with someone throughout a psychedelic experience. Their role is to monitor physical and psychological well-being without directing or controlling the experience.

🤝💬 A good trip sitter builds trust with the person beforehand. Talk through what to expect, what the person’s intentions are, and any concerns or anxieties they have. This alone can significantly reduce the risk of a difficult experience.

🧠🆘Even with great preparation, difficult experiences can happen. Knowing how to respond matters. A “bad trip” can involve fear, anxiety, and paranoia. If someone is struggling, your presence is the most powerful tool you have. Stay calm. Speak slowly and reassuringly. Remind them that what they’re feeling is temporary and that they are safe.

⏰🛡️ Psychedelic experiences typically last 4–10 hours depending on the substance. During that window, your main job as a trip sitter is simple: be present, stay calm, and don’t interfere unless needed. Avoid leading or directing the experience. Only step in if the person seeks reassurance or shows signs of distress.

💭🌱 The experience is over, but the trip sitter’s role isn’t quite done yet. What happens after matters just as much. Once the acute effects wear off, give the person space to process. Let them talk through what they experienced, write it down, or simply sit with it. Trip sitting isn’t about being in control, it’s about creating safety. Whether you’re supporting someone in a clinical trial or a personal setting, a calm, sober, trusted presence is one of the most meaningful things you can offer.

#TACOboutit #HarmReduction #TACO #TripSit by @taco.ecu

4

0

4 months ago

Big thank you to all of our Pirates who came out yesterday to help refill overdose kits at downtown restaurants and bars! 💜 This initiative is all about keeping our community safe, and we’re so proud of the impact we made together. We had an amazing turnout and couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you! #PiratesCare #CommunityStrong by @taco.ecu

79

3

4 months ago

Should they mix ❗❓ MDMA & Alcohol

🍻🍷 Alcohol is a substance that is consumed as a drink in most commonly social settings. A standard drink is defined as a 12oz glass of beer, a 5oz glass of wine, or a 1.5oz shot of liquor, with liquor having the most alcohol. The effects alcohol will have on a person depend on age, weight, sex, amount of food consumed before, and even drinking habits. A blood alcohol concentration level below 0.08 is the legal limit to drive any vehicle.

😱👀 Alcohol molecules stick to dopamine receptors found in the nucleus accumbens structures in the brain. When these areas of the brain are constantly activated, producing dopamine and its “feel good” feelings, the brain craves more. Alcohol is a depressant as it decreases coordination, concentration, and judgment by acting on GABA receptors in the brain responsible for calming any excited neurons.

💊🩺 MDMA is an illicit drug that changes how the brain interprets our senses like sound, vision, and even thoughts, also known as a psychoactive drug. It is found in ecstasy in the form of pills. MDMA can also exist by itself in a crystal formulation, which can be crushed and sorted.

🧠👂 This illicit drug causes euphoric feelings of trust, connectedness, and energizing effects when not used chronically. MDMA binds to parts of the brain, called receptors, that make “happy molecules” such as serotonin and dopamine stay in the brain longer. Individuals who use MDMA habitually report the development of mental health disorders because it affects the way the brain processes the “happy chemicals.” Additionally, MDMA has been reported to cause hyperthermia, dehydration, and stroke.

❗❗🤓 Alcohol and MDMA taken together may cause dangerous side effects. Alcohol can decrease brain-to-body functions such as walking, talking, thinking, and decision making, and MDMA can exacerbate the effects. Additionally, MDMA increases internal body temperature (hyperthermia), which, combined with alcohol, dehydrates the body further. Severe and rapid dehydration can cause multiple organs to fail or cause a stroke.

#tacoboutit #neuroscience #tacotuesday #harmreduction #sciencebacked by @taco.ecu

4

0

4 months ago

🧠⚡ Ketamine and cocaine are two drugs that work in opposite ways, but are often used together. Ketamine is a dissociative drug, meaning it can make you feel detached from your body and surroundings. Cocaine is a stimulant that boosts energy, heightens your senses, and makes your heart work harder. On their own, each one carries serious risks. Together those risks become more dangerous. 💊🫀

⚠️ When taken together, these two drugs place additional stress on your heart and brain. Cocaine’s energy-boosting effects can hide how intoxicated you feel from ketamine, which increases the risk of taking more than you mean to, and with it, greater risk of breathing problems, heart issues such as an irregular heart beat, and damage to your brain and body.

🚨💔 The most important things to know if you or someone you know is using:
Watch for warning signs: chest pain, irregular heart beat, seizures, passing out, and extreme anxiety
Do not re-dose, it is easy to accidentally take too much
Never use alone.
Look up your nearest harm reduction resources before you need them 🆘🚨

#TACOtuesday #TACOaboutHarmReduction #knowtherisk #HarmReduction #campuslife by @taco.ecu

5

0

4 months ago

🏃‍♂️💨 The way in which you take a drug impacts how quickly it reaches the brain, and how quickly you feel its effects. From quickest to slowest: inhalation > intravenous (IV) > intranasal (snorting) > rectal > oral (swallowing) > transdermal (skin patch). The quicker you feel the drug’s effects, the more likely you are to get addicted. 🧠⛓️

💊💉 Each of the different ways you can take a drug also come with their own risks. Methods that allow the drug to reach the brain the quickest come with an inherent overdose risk, but methods where the drug is slow to take effect often lead to re-dosing or double dosing, which can also lead to overdose. With all methods, sharing things like needles, straws or pipes can lead to infection and/or injury. It is important to be aware of the specific risks of your chosen way of using a drug in order to be as safe as possible. 🩸😷

❤️‍🩹⚠️ Regardless of how you use, the most important things you can do to stay safe are:
1.) carry naloxone/narcan when using any type of opioid,
2.) avoid the temptation to re-dose when using a method that takes longer to take effect,
3.) always use clean tools and avoid sharing,
4.) never use alone! 🕺🕺 🫧

#neuroscience #publichealth #college #harmreduction #student by @taco.ecu

6

0

5 months ago

Harm reduction is an evidence-based tool to help adults struggling with substance use disorders. Instead of focusing on abstinence, which has been proven to not be effective, harm reduction meets people where they are to save lives.

Main Goals:
1. to reduce preventable overdose death
2. Reduce infectious disease transmission, such as HIV & Hepatitis C, and other harms due to substance use.
3. Increase engagement for healthcare services to the public

Policy Shift: In the mid-2010s, harm reduction moved from “underground” community programs into mainstream healthcare policy. This shift allowed for the expansion of Naloxone prescribing, pharmacy access, and the legal authorization of Syringe Service Programs (SSPs).

3 Key Approaches you should know:
1. Fentanyl test strips: Just 2mg of fentanyl can be fatal. These low-cost strips allow people to test substances for the presence of fentanyl.
2. Research shows that when people use FTS, they adopt safer behaviors, like using smaller amounts, going slower, and not using alone.
3. Syringe service programs: Provide sterile syringes to reduce HIV/Hep C transmission and ensure safe disposal, overdose prevention tools, and a bridge to medical treatment and education for those who want it.
4. MOUD (Medication for Opioid Use Disorder): Use of medications such as buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone to support the recovery process.

Harm reduction is an effective tool to reduce long term harm from substance abuse. It prioritizes safety, science, and public health over judgment. by @taco.ecu

6

0

5 months ago