What is Narcan? Life Saving Treatment That Can Reverse Opioid Overdose Symptoms

Houston officials say a chaotic concert scramble that left 8 people dead included a suspected injection of unwanted opioid that prompted several people to inject the drug Narcan to reverse symptoms of a drug overdose.

Houston Police Chief Troy Finner noted at a press conference on Saturday, a security guard reported feeling a “prick” in the neck and medical staff administered Narcan to the guard and several people.

NARCAN is used to help resuscitate opioid overdose victims. Two Cincinnati police officers recently used the drug to help a woman who had a drug overdose. (Photo by MediaNews Group / Reading Eagle via Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

ASTROWORLD FESTIVAL: POLICE CONFIRMS VICTIMS MAY BE INJECTED WITH DRUGS, LAUNCHES CRIMINAL PROBE

Narcan, also known as Naloxone, is one of the few drugs available to first responders and the public that has the ability to reverse the symptoms of an overdose and potentially save lives, according to Family First Intervention.

Narcan is an opioid antagonist, which means that it blocks opioid receptors in the brain and reverses the symptoms that accompany opioids like heroin and fentanyl.

Opioid overdoses usually include low blood pressure, slow heart rate, slow or stop breathing, blue lips, and pale skin.

Rapper Travis Scott was performing on stage when what authorities are calling a “mass incident” occurred.
(Photo by Erika Goldring / WireImage)

To administer Narcan, first responders and healthcare professionals usually lay the victim flat on their back with their head tilted slightly before applying the nasal spray applicator into one nostril and squeezing it.

TRAVIS SCOTT ASTROWORLD: CROWD SINGING “STOP THE SHOW” WHEN THE CHAOS HATCHED UP

In many cases, victims will regain consciousness or reactivity within minutes.

CDC 2015 report said: “From 1996 to June 2014, the organizations interviewed provided naloxone kits to 152,283 laypersons and received reports of 26,463 overdose reversals. “

At a press conference on Saturday afternoon, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner confirmed that while the age of a victim who attended the Travis Scott Astroworld concert remains unknown, the other victims were 14, 16 , 21, 23 and 27 years old. Two victims were 21 years old and two were 23 years old.

Turner confirmed that 25 people had been hospitalized, including several participants under the age of 18.

Scott, 29, released a statement, as did the promoter of the Live Nation event.
(Amy Harris / Invision / AP)

Authorities declared a “mass casualty incident” just after 9 p.m. Friday during the festival attended by around 50,000 people, Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña told reporters at a conference. hurry.

Within hours of the incident, a video started circulating on Twitter featuring Scott, 29, playing as police appear to be working to resuscitate a nearby participant.

Fox News’ Nate Day contributed to this report