Naloxone nasal spray is used to treat opioid overdose. However, an incidence at Hennepin County Sheriff's office brought to light the flaws of the applicator.
A medical supply company was urged by US Senator Klobuchar to review and fix the faulty naloxone applicator.
The US senator sent a letter to Benson Smith, CEO of Teleflex Medical stating that the Hennepin County Sheriff's office was finding it hard to obtain an applicator for naloxone that works.
The senator explained in her letter that law enforcement in the county is hard pressed to combat the opioid overdose epidemic and that it is essential for the personnel to be equipped with tools in performing their duties.
She asked Teleflex to take immediate course of action to ensure that the equipment works properly and asked that the faulty devices be replaced. This equipment is crucial in administering antidote to drug overdose and it is essential in saving lives.
Opioid overdose related deaths are on the rise and is now higher than homicide in the state of Minnesota. According to the senator, 336 lives were lost due to the drug menace in 2015 as reported in an article by StarTribune.
Although no deaths were related due to the defective device, Hennepin County Sherriff Rich Stanek is concerned because the opioid overdose deaths is at a record high in his area.
The device in question turns injectable naloxone into mist which is sprayed into the nose. This is a faster way of administering the drug into the body.
The defective devices Teleflex shoots a stream of liquid instead of spraying mist. This may delay the action of the drug and may cause a delay in reversing the effects of the opioid toxicity.
According to Sherriff Stanek, they are dealing with an opioid epidemic and they need all the help they can get in dealing with the problem. The recall of the defective applicators is of the highest importance as reported in Twincities.com Pioneer Press.
