Opioid Overdose Prevention and Reversal
When Is an Overdose More Common?
Your Tolerance is Low...
- You've been sick, tired, rundown, dehydrated.
- You may have been in Jail for a period of time.
- You may be alone with no one to help you.
- You may have received Stronger drugs such as Fentynal.
- Mixing your drugs with Alcohol.
Recognizing an Overdose
What to Look For...
- Loss of consciousness.
- Unresponsive to external stimuli.
- Shallow or raspy breathing, snoring or gurgling sounds.
- Lips and Fingernails are Blue or Purplish Black.
- Wont respond to a name callout.
Opioid Overdose Reversal
Narcan®
(Naloxone)
What is this Naloxone?
Naloxone swiftly reverses an Opioid Overdose. Naloxone only lasts between 30 and 90 minutes in the system. Always stay with the individual.
Naloxone DOES reverse Heroin, Fentanyl, Morphine, Codeine, and pharmaceuticals like Hydrocodone and Oxycodone.
The Good Samaritan Law makes it safe against legal charges for having naloxone and administering the medicine to a friend or anyone who may be in a dangerous Opioid Oversose crisis situation. Meaning, Life or Death.
There are two ways to delivery Naloxone to the individual. 1) Nasal spray and 2) Intra-muscular injection. Both contains two doses in the case a second dose is needed to reverse the opioid.
Naloxone DOES NOT reverse non-opioids such as Methaphetamines and Benzos.
Naloxone is non-addictive and has no potential for abuse.
Naloxone Reversal Procedures
Nasal Spray and Injectable
Have someone call 911 while getting ready to administer Naloxone. If you are alone, contact 911 immediately to give them your location.
Tell 911 that you have an overdose situation, give them your location, and tell them you are starting to administer Naloxone to the individual. DO NOT LEAVE THE INDIVIDUAL ALONE.
Nasal Spray
- PEEL back the package to remove the device.
- HOLD the Narcan nasal spray with your thumb on the plunger and your index and middle fingers on eirther side of the nozzle.
- TILT the individual’s head back, supporting the neck with your hand.
- PLACE the tip of the nozzle in either nostril until your fingers touch the bottom or the individual’s nose.
- PRESS the plunger firmly to release the dose into the individual’s nose.
Injectable
- Take the orange cap off the vile and stick the needle through the rubber stopper.
- Draw all the fluid into the needle by pulling back on the plunger Be sure the syringe fills will liquid not air.
- Inject the needle straight into the muscle in the shoulder (like a flu shot) or into the front of the thigh. Push down on the plunger to empty the syringe. It is OK to inject through clothing.
- If the individual does not respond in 3-5 minutes, inject the other dose of naloxone.
