There's a device that can reverse drug overdoses

Question

Science News article excerpt (claim bolded): 

Naloxone has saved thousands of lives by reversing opioid overdoses. But its success hinges on someone being nearby who can administer the drug quickly. Many people are alone when they overdose.

A new implant could someday address that problem. Inserted under the skin and run by a battery, the device can detect an overdose’s onset and release naloxone directly into the bloodstream, while simultaneously alerting first responders, researchers reported October 23 in Science Advances. The device, called the Naloximeter, has been tested only in animals.

Answer 1

It may be too early to fully assess this claim, but it is fair to say the device will work. The linked article describes an implant that when placed under someone's skin, can detect when the user's blood starts to become too low on oxygen and release naloxone (a medicine that has been proven to overturn opioid overdoses) into the person's body while also alerting first responders. This device has not yet been used on any humans, but has been successfully tested on animals. While the device is still in its early stages and is a long time away from being tested on humans, its developers have high hopes for the device's future. Additionally, the device is praised by other reliable sources, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and research done at the University of Washington. As of now, there is no evidence to dispute this claim and lots of reputable sources who believe this device will work.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology: https://news.mit.edu/2024/implantable-sensor-could-reverse-opioid-overdoses-0814#:~:text=Caption%3A-,A%20new%20device%2C%20which%20can%20be%20implanted%20under%20the%20skin,to%20reverse%20an%20opioid%20overdose.&text=by%20MIT%20News-,Caption%3A,rate%2C%20and%20other%20vital%20signs.

University of Washington: https://newsroom.uw.edu/news-releases/wearable-injector-can-detect-and-reverse-opioid-overdose

Answer 2

This device looks very promising, although it is still in testing stages and too early to tell if it will be possible, the idea behind the device is brilliant. Other sources seem to agree that this device will likely work. It uses oxygen sensing in the near by tissues of the device to detect a overdose.

Comments

Hi Leslee, this answer looks very promising, but I was wondering what sources you were using. I found this article that says this medicine can overdo opioids in people's systems. I know this is not the same as the device but also they are similar. I haven't found any other article talking about this machine besides the one. Have you found any other one?

-https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/drug-overdose-naloxone

Answer 3

The claim here is in reference to Naloxone which has been proven many times over to help  reverse overdoses, and this article specifically is referencing a new devise that can release naloxone after detecting the overdose. According to USNEWS.comm this devise does in fact exist and could potentially save thousands of lives. " “This technology has far-reaching implications for those threatened by other emergent medical conditions such as anaphylaxis or epilepsy,” Ciatti added. “Our study lays important groundwork for future clinical translation. We hope others in the field can build off of these findings to help make autonomous rescue devices a reality.”

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2024-10-24/implant-might-prevent-opioid-overdose#:~:text=Implanted%20under%20the%20skin%2C%20the,releases%20naloxone%20into%20their%20body.