It’s hard to think of a situation more preventable than a fentanyl overdose inside a Kentucky drug rehab facility. But it can happen, especially when the facility itself isn’t prepared. Part of those requirements means having certain doses of Narcan on hand. If that leaves you injured, Kaufman & Stigger can help. Set up a free consultation today.
Can I Sue a Rehab Center If It Doesn’t Administer Narcan?
Even in a drug treatment facility, it’s not unheard of for fentanyl to find its way in. And that makes an overdose almost inevitable. But again, it’s also totally preventable. There’s even certain drugs—particularly naloxone—that reverse the overdose. And part of any drug rehab facility’s emergency protocols includes administering it. But for a variety of reasons, those protocols break down in the scramble of the overdose. The question is, then, how does that happen? Usually, it involves:
- A staff member sees the overdose but doesn’t administer Narcan. Many overdose symptoms are obvious—slow breathing, blue lips, unconsciousness, pinpoint pupils. If staff recognize those signs and Narcan is available but isn’t used, that’s a serious problem. At that point, it’s not about guessing. It’s about acting quickly with the medication designed to reverse the overdose.
- The facility doesn’t have Narcan available. Rehab centers that treat opioid addiction know relapse and overdose are real possibilities. Because of that, Narcan is expected to be readily available. If a facility doesn’t keep it on hand, that may point to a major gap in basic safety planning.
- Staff aren’t trained to use Narcan properly. Rehab staff are supposed to be trained on how to recognize overdoses and respond to them. If someone doesn’t know when or how to administer Narcan, that may indicate a bigger issue with the facility’s training or oversight.
- Staff hesitate to use Narcan. In some cases, staff may delay responding for different reasons—confusion about procedures, lack of training, or even concern about how the situation reflects on the facility. But when someone is overdosing, hesitation can make the situation far worse.
Responding quickly to an overdose might seem like common sense, but these kinds of failures still happen in treatment facilities. That’s exactly why rules and emergency protocols exist in the first place. When a rehab center doesn’t administer Narcan or take other life-saving steps, it can be considered negligence.
Who’s Liable If Narcan Isn’t Administered During an Overdose in a Drug Rehab Facility?
An overdose is devastating for any family—especially when it happens inside a facility that was supposed to be providing treatment and supervision.
When a rehab center doesn’t respond properly, there are often questions about who may be responsible.
- The rehab facility and its staff. Most of the time, responsibility starts with the facility itself. Even if policies exist on paper, staff and supervisors are responsible for following them. When those procedures aren’t carried out, the facility and the employees involved may be held accountable.
- Corporate owners or management companies. Many rehab facilities are run by larger companies that control staffing, training, and supply decisions. If those companies fail to provide proper staffing levels, adequate training, or medications like Narcan, they may share responsibility for what happened.
- Outside contractors. Some rehab centers rely on outside medical providers or contractors to manage certain parts of care. If those groups were responsible for emergency planning, training, or medication availability, they could also be part of the situation.
The key point is this: overdoses in rehab settings aren’t unpredictable. They’re a known risk. That’s exactly why Narcan is expected to be on-site and why staff are supposed to know how—and when—to use it.
Reach Out to Kaufman & Stigger After an Overdose in a Kentucky Drug Rehab Facility
When a fentanyl overdose happens inside a rehab facility, the consequences can be serious and long-lasting. Depending on the situation, a claim may involve things like:
- Medical bills for emergency treatment and hospitalization
- Ongoing care, therapy, or rehabilitation
- Lost income if the person can’t work while recovering
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma experienced by the person or their family
- Long-term health complications or permanent changes to someone’s quality of life
- Wrongful death damages if the overdose was fatal
It’s a situation that no family or patient wants to find themselves in. The reality, though, is that it happens. When it does because the facility or its staff don’t respond in the right way, our Kentucky rehab facility negligence lawyers at Kaufman & Stigger can help you understand what may have happened and what options there are. Set up a free consultation today.
