Welcome to another one of those posts you hope you never need to use.
What Is Naloxone?
Naloxone is a drug that can reverse an opioid overdose.
you might give it as a shot in the thigh, or a puff up the nose.
It works by blocking the brains receptors for opioids.
(Opioids include heroin, fentanyl, morphine, codeine, and prescription painkillers like Oxycontin.)
Naloxone crowds the opioid out of the brains receptors, but it doesnt depress breathing or create a high.
Who Can Use It?
Using naloxone is something a bystander can do, just like first aid or CPR.
So maybe you have a friend or family member who uses opioids.
Or maybe youre putting together emergency plans for an event or organization.
How Do You Get It?
In some states, community organizations can pass out naloxone to people at risk.
Usethis toolto find an overdose prevention group near you, or check with your local health department.
(You should also take other steps to reduce your risk of overdose, includingseeking treatment.
But yes, get naloxone too.)
How Much Does It Cost?
(Again, look for a grouphere, or just google naloxone and the name of your town.)
Naloxone can come in different forms.
You spray it in the persons nose.
Cost:$140for a two-pack (you may need to use both).
A pre-loaded syringe, which you likewise spray in the persons nose.Cost: $50.
A recorded voice walks you through using it.
A vial of liquidthat youload into a syringe, and then inject.
How Do You Know When to Use It?
Someone who has overdosed and could benefit from naloxone typically looks like this:
Non-responsive.
Shout their name, and rub their sternum with your knuckles.
It will wake them up if theyre just sleeping.)
Not breathing, or breathing very slowly.Less than 12 breaths per minute means this is serious.
Blue lips and fingernails.This means their body isnt getting enough oxygen.
Gurgling,or similar sounds like snoring or choking.
Readthis more complete descriptionof what you might see in someone who is overdosing.
Butany timesomebody is unresponsive and has trouble breathing, call 911.
Tell themwhere you are, andthat youre with somebody who is breathing slowly or isnt breathing.
to learn what to do in this situation.
What Happens Next?
Naloxone doesnt work miracles; its job is to just keep the person alive until help arrives.
You actually need to do three things at roughly the same time:
Call 911.
Dorescue breathing(mouth to mouth), or CPR if you know it.
Also give the second dose if they feel better, but then become unresponsive again before help arrives.
Once the person is awake and seems like theyre totally fine,you still have to stay with them.
The person may feel withdrawal symptoms.
Finally, naloxone only counteracts the opioid in their system.
If they had other drugs or alcohol at the same time, they may still feel those effects.
Waking up from an opioid overdose is awful, but its less awful than dying.
