
Episode 9:
Wonder Drug
BY ALEX WARREN, TORY KANG, AND DAVID OLAWUNI
Opioid overdoses take lives all around us, but what if you had the ability to help? Join us as we learn about Naloxone, the wonder drug that can stop opioid overdoses in their tracks!
This episode was produced as part of an upper level course on Neuropharmacology taught by Angel Kaur during Fall 2019 at UNC Asheville.
Articles Referenced
- Wang Q. et. al. Naloxone inhibits immune cell function by suppressing superoxide production through a direct interaction with gp91phox subunit of NADPH oxidase. Journal of Neuroinflammation. 9, 1-15 (2012).
- Fukuda T, Nishimoto C, Toyooka H. Effects of naloxone on stress-induced analgesia after hemorrhagic shock. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 30(4), 339-43 (2005).
- Costa, F. et. al. Naloxone prolongs abdominal constriction writhing-like behavior in a zebrafish-based pain model. Science. nulet. 703, 1-5. (2019).
- Khorasani, M. et. al. Interaction of adenosine and naloxone on regional cerebral blood flow in morphine-dependent rats. Science. brain res. 1084, 61-66 (2006).
- Tobin, K. et al. Awareness and access to naloxone necessary but not sufficient: Examining gaps in the naloxone cascade. International Journal of Drug Policy. 59, 94-97 (2018).
- Bird, S. et. al. Take-home naloxone to prevent fatalities from opiate overdose: protocol for Scotland’s public health policy evaluation, and a new measure to assess impact. Drugs: education, prevention and policy, 22(1), 66-76. (2014).
- Gupta, R. et. al. The rising price of naloxone- risks to efforts to stem overdose deaths. New England journal of medicine, 375(23), 2213-2215. (2016).
- Rando, J. et. al. Intranasal naloxone administration by police first responders is associated with decreased opioid overdose deaths. The American journal of emergency medicine, 33, 1201-1204 (2015).
- Gertner, A. K., Domino, M. E., & Davis, C. S. Do naloxone access laws increase outpatient naloxone prescriptions? Evidence from Medicaid. Drug and alcohol dependence, 190, 37-41 (2018).
- Caleb, J. Banta-Green et. al. Police officers’ and paramedics’ experiences with overdose and their knowledge and opinions of Washington state’s drug overdose-naloxone-good samaritan law. Journal of Urban Health. 90 (6). 1102-1111 (2013).
Credits
Written, Directed, and Featuring: Alex Warren, Tory Kang, and David Olawuni
Scientific Research by: Alex Warren, Tory Kang, and David Olawuni
Recording Assistance: Kent Thompson & Leah at the UNC Asheville Audio Design Lab
Additional Sound Engineering: Austin Klumpp, Sasha Hussey and team at UNC Asheville Media Design Lab
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