Unless you watch The Real Housewife franchise on Bravo, you may not know the name Dennis Shields. He was the onagain – off again boyfriend of Bethany Frankel, a Real Housewife of New York. His unfortunate death has given him another fifteen minutes of fame even bigger than being on the show itself. He has seemed to receive more publicity now because he defied the odds of what many, including the Surgeon General, claim to be the solution to an overdose.

Around 9:00 am on August 10th, he allegedly asked his assistant to administer a can of Naloxone to help him from overdosing and to save his life. Apparently Shields went unconscious before the medication could take any effect. Narcan is a prescription medication that is used to block the effects of an overdose by reducing respiratory and mental depression caused from opioids. By spraying Naloxone in a nostril, a person can bide their time for another hour to an hour and a half to allow them to get the medical treatment that will give them a better chance to survive an overdose.

As Dennis Shields’ death is still under investigation, the question still remains to know if Naloxone really works as a preventive measure to overdose? The answer is yes. Naloxone has saved over 10,000 people from dying from an overdose in between 1996-2010. This statistic will continue to rise with the opioid epidemic and the need to save more people than ever from the grips of addiction.

Those who use Naloxone as their only preventive measure for their substance abuse could still have some detrimental consequences to face. Someone who is abusing narcotics and continuously overusing the efforts of first responders or healthcare professionals could be deemed a nuisance to where the police must take legal action. If the medication is not administered correctly or within the proper amount, someone could still pass away just like Dennis Shields did.    

According to news reports, Shields was a functioning banker who had back issues to which he overshot the mark with his prescription pain medication by not taking it as the label suggested. The autopsy will be able to reveal more about what he had in his bloodstream. While his death is unfortunate that he was unable to survive from the opioid blocker, the truth remains that Naloxone is being used more for each overdose that occurs and continues to save the life of many.  

If you are battling drug and alcohol addiction, The Kimberly Center can help assist you into your recovery. One of our primary purposes is to help you to restore your life free from abuse and destructive behaviors. We treat our clients on an individual basis to ensure their well-being.

Call us today to begin: 855-4-KCENTER (855-452-3683)