ASA Member Trains Congressional Staff on Naloxone Usage To Reverse Opioid Overdose

On Thursday, September 21, Dr. Bonnie Milas, a clinical professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, presented at a briefing on Capitol Hill on over the counter (OTC) use of Naloxone. The briefing was convened by the bi-partisan Congressional Problem Solvers Caucus and provided hands on training and education on identifying and preventing opioid overdose deaths. Dr. Milas is a member of ASA’s Committee on Trauma and Emergency Preparedness (COTEP) which was instrumental in the development of ASA’s REVIVEme initiative.

During the briefing, Dr. Milas spoke on the use of opioids as well as the signs and symptoms to recognize a person suffering from an opioid overdose. She demonstrated CPR, rescue breaths, and Naloxone administration on a mannequin. Dr. Milas shared her personal story of losing both her sons to an opioid overdose. She is committed to reducing the stigma associated with opioid use disorder, saving lives from opioid overdoses with easy access to Naloxone, and working to ensure others don’t experience her devastating loss. 

ASA has been active and at the forefront of advocating for OTC Naloxone. You can find out more about Dr. Milas and her personal connection to this topic as part of ASA’s REVIVEme initiative, a web site that brings awareness to opioid overdose and naloxone, as well as how to recognize, react and revive a person overdosing.