Take Home Naloxone

Naloxone has the potential to save lives and is increasing being accepted as a valuable intervention in efforts to reduce overdoses and drug related deaths.

Naloxone is a Heroin ‘Antidote’

• An ‘antidote to heroin’
• Temporarily reverses the effects of an opiate overdose
• It is short acting – wears off quickly
• Overdose can last for 8 hours or more (especially with methadone)
• Naloxone can begin to wear off after 20 mins
• No effect on overdoses resulting from the use of other drugs
• No potential for abuse
• Naloxone precipitates WITHDRAWAL – the individual may want to use again straight away or become aggressive
• Monitoring required after initial administration

How Naloxone Can Help

• Reduce morbidity and mortality associated with drug use
• Promote harm reduction by disseminating appropriate equipment and information
• Improve health and social care for drug users and their carers
• Enhance service provision for service users
• Provide consistent communication about the acute risks of drugs