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