Denver advocate for drug users: Reversing overdose with oxygen ‘gold standard,’ Narcan has risks

Lisa Raville of the Harm Reduction Action Center in Denver emphasized in this month’s newsletter emailed to the author of this article that oxygen needs to be administered in addition to Narcan when somebody overdoses and should be tried first.

“At the fireside chat a few weeks ago, rescue breathing was prioritized as a gold standard in a compassionate overdose response,” Raville wrote in the newsletter, referring to an event sponsored last month by the center. “Many folks in the crowd echoed that they are alive today because someone gave them the gift of saving their life and reduced brain damage with the kindest act of rescue breathing.”

Raville said in an email to the author of this article that oxygen is the “gold standard” and that most overdose prevention sites don’t even use Narcan, successfully preventing overdose with oxygen.

Oxygen not as harsh as Narcan

Oxygen is a kinder, gentler way of bringing someone back from the brink than with Narcan. Raville referenced the Oxygen First! zine published by the New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition that states, “Everyone deserves a kind wake-up. Plenty of rescue breaths plus low-dose naloxone can result in more kind, considerate, and humane opioid overdose reversal outcomes. No one should suffer for surviving an overdose.”

According to the zine: “The person overdosing needs oxygen in their brain and bloodstream. If it looks like this person is overdosing and having difficulty breathing, get them oxygen ASAP by giving them rescue breaths.” The zine says breaths should be given every five to seven seconds until the patient is breathing independently.

If the patient does not respond to rescue breaths, say, “I’ve going to give you Narcan now,” the zine advises. If that doesn’t rile them awake, they are likely overdosing. Drug users know that waking up from Narcan can be abrupt and unpleasant. Give one dose of Narcan, the zine advises. If they’re not breathing after four minutes, give a second dose. Continue administering rescue breaths.

Avoiding using too much Narcan

The zine explains that when too much Narcan is administered, the opioid receptors stay closed for a long time, precipitating dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Those who try to use drugs to ease withdrawals won’t get any relief until the Narcan wears off.

According to Remedy Alliance for the People , “In cases of xylazine involvement, which is not responsive to naloxone, oxygen therapy can prevent critical oxygen deprivation until more advanced interventions are available.”

Compassionate overdose response

According to Raville, the Health Management Association recently hosted a Compassionate Overdose Response Summit. According to the summit’s final report, plenty of evidence exists to suggest that lower-dose Narcan works just as well and with less side effects than the version of Narcan that is twice as strong.

The report includes testimony from drug users who shared their overdose resuscitation stories. “Malcom Visnich from Prevention Point Pittsburgh shared two of his own opioid overdose experiences in which naloxone was used on him, highlighting the risks of high dose naloxone products,” according to the summit report. “In one instance, he was with friends who covered him with a blanket and gave him a small dose of naloxone, bringing him out of an overdose without significant trauma. In the second instance, Mr. Visnich was around several people he did not know when he overdosed. They gave him at least three doses of naloxone nasal spray and called emergency services, who gave him an unknown number of additional doses of naloxone. When he awoke, he began vomiting so much he reported he could barely breathe, and he experienced extreme anxiety. ‘I tried to re-dose with heroin every 15 minutes to feel anything other than this horrible feeling.’ Mr. Visnich reported: “For months after that bad overdose, I was super hesitant to use around others. I mostly wanted to use alone to avoid something like that from happening again which put me at great risk.”

Report: Media, Pharma misrepresented overdose experiences

The report explains, “Media and pharmaceutical industries have misrepresented the experiences, narratives, and data about people who use drugs to justify the sale of higher-dose, longer-lasting, and/or branded naloxone products in the United States.”

In Denver, 351 people had died of overdose in 2025 through Aug. 25, according to city officials . The Denver Department of Public Health and Environment will offer free overdose training from 2 to 3 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Central Library. Those who would like to attend virtually or in person can register online.

Originally published at https://www.newsbreak.com on October 25, 2025.