Everything You Need to Know About Naloxone
If you or someone you know uses opioids, Naloxone can be a lifesaver
Donate Here
•
Health
What is Naloxone?
Naloxone is a medicine that can be used by anyone to reverse a potentially fatal opioid overdose. It works by blocking opioids (like heroin, morphine, methadone and codeine) from acting on receptors in the brain. This helps a person start breathing again if their breathing has stopped or slowed down because of an overdose.
Naloxone is safe, easy to use, and will not harm someone who has not taken opioids.
How is Naloxone used?
Naloxone comes in three common forms:
Nasal Spray (Nyxoid): A spray that goes into one nostril. Nyxoid comes with 2 devices that each provide 1 dose. 1 dose is equivalent to 400 micrograms of naloxone. While some people might only need one dose, others may need multiple.
Prefilled Syringe (Prenoxad): An injection that goes into muscles like the thigh, or upper arm. Prenoxad has 2000 micrograms of naloxone in the one pre-filled syringe. It is easily put together by attaching the 23g syringe tip provided in the box. The person who has overdosed can be given up to 5 small doses of 400 micrograms of naloxone.
Ampoules: 5 small doses of 400 micrograms of naloxone that come in small ampoules (bottles) that get injected into the thigh or upper arm. The naloxone doses have to be loaded into 3ml barrels with a 23g syringe tip attached.
Nyxoid, Prenoxad, and Ampoules are all filled with the same medicine, naloxone.
How to recognise an overdose
- A person is unconscious or difficult to wake
- No breathing, or slow and shallow breathing
- Loud raspy snoring
- Blue lips
- Pale skin
- Tiny pupils
What should you do if someone overdoses?
There is no one way to overdose, but there are signs you can look for, and ways you can help if a person has overdosed.
- Try to wake the person and check their breathing.
- If they can’t wake up properly or at all, but they are breathing regularly, put them on their side in the recovery position.
- If they aren’t breathing, or they aren’t breathing enough, give them rescue breaths.
- Give them one dose (one spray of Nyxoid, one line of Prenoxad or one ampoule) of naloxone.
- Keep doing rescue breaths for about 3 to 5 minutes.
- If they still aren’t breathing regularly, give them another dose of naloxone.
- Repeat rescue breathing and doses of naloxone until the ambulance arrives or the person begins to breathe and wakes again.
Always call 000 when a person has overdosed, even if you are using naloxone. The person may still need medical care.
Getting Naloxone in prison
Every prison and correction centre in Australia has different practices when it comes to overdose training and naloxone.
- On release – Some prisons offer training to people who want to know how to use naloxone. It is usually offered during other education sessions about drugs, or close to a person’s release date. People in prison usually can’t get naloxone while they are locked up but may be given it when they are leaving, or will be told where they can get it once they are out.
- Corrections and health staff – Naloxone is available to health workers in most Australian prisons and corrections centres and sometimes guards in prisons and corrections centres so that they can help if a prisoner overdoses.
- Many people who work in policy, advocacy and health are trying to make sure prisons and corrections services can provide naloxone to everyone.
Getting Naloxone after release
Leaving a prison or corrections service is an extremely risky time for people who use drugs. People who use heroin or other opioids can lose their tolerance after even a few days without using. This means you can’t use as much of the drug as you might have used before you went in, and because drugs like heroin are illegal, it is really hard to know how much you previously used and how much you can use after you are released.
When you leave prison, you can get naloxone in many places. It might seem like a hassle but having naloxone can save your life or the life of someone else you care about. It is free in most places, and you do not need a prescription
or ID.
- DUOs: The AIVL Network of peer-based harm reduction and Drug User Organisations in every capital city and some regional and rural locations can provide you with free naloxone, overdose training, and support.
- Needle and Syringe Programs (NSPs): Most NSPs in Australia provide free naloxone and teach you how to use it.
- Pharmacies: Many community and hospital pharmacies give out free naloxone without a prescription.
Staying safe
- Try not to use opioids alone. Have someone nearby who can help if needed.
- Use less if you haven’t used in a while or you don’t know how strong the gear is.
- Carry naloxone. Make sure people around you know where it is and how to use it.
- Avoid mixing opioids with other drugs, especially depressant drugs like alcohol, benzodiazepines (valium, temazepam), and some other medications.
AIVL will continue to work alongside others to ensure the best healthcare for people in prisons, corrections centres, and the community. To learn more about our work and how you can get involved, visit www.aivl.org.au, call 1800-692485 (MYAIVL), and mail at A1/35-39 Bourke Road Alexandria NSW 2015.
What is Naloxone?
Naloxone is a medicine that can be used by anyone to reverse a potentially fatal opioid overdose. It works by blocking opioids (like heroin, morphine, methadone and codeine) from acting on receptors in the brain. This helps a person start breathing again if their breathing has stopped or slowed down because of an overdose.
Naloxone is safe, easy to use, and will not harm someone who has not taken opioids.
How is Naloxone used?
Naloxone comes in three common forms:
Nasal Spray (Nyxoid): A spray that goes into one nostril. Nyxoid comes with 2 devices that each provide 1 dose. 1 dose is equivalent to 400 micrograms of naloxone. While some people might only need one dose, others may need multiple.
Prefilled Syringe (Prenoxad): An injection that goes into muscles like the thigh, or upper arm. Prenoxad has 2000 micrograms of naloxone in the one pre-filled syringe. It is easily put together by attaching the 23g syringe tip provided in the box. The person who has overdosed can be given up to 5 small doses of 400 micrograms of naloxone.
Ampoules: 5 small doses of 400 micrograms of naloxone that come in small ampoules (bottles) that get injected into the thigh or upper arm. The naloxone doses have to be loaded into 3ml barrels with a 23g syringe tip attached.
Nyxoid, Prenoxad, and Ampoules are all filled with the same medicine, naloxone.
How to recognise an overdose
- A person is unconscious or difficult to wake
- No breathing, or slow and shallow breathing
- Loud raspy snoring
- Blue lips
- Pale skin
- Tiny pupils
What should you do if someone overdoses?
There is no one way to overdose, but there are signs you can look for, and ways you can help if a person has overdosed.
- Try to wake the person and check their breathing.
- If they can’t wake up properly or at all, but they are breathing regularly, put them on their side in the recovery position.
- If they aren’t breathing, or they aren’t breathing enough, give them rescue breaths.
- Give them one dose (one spray of Nyxoid, one line of Prenoxad or one ampoule) of naloxone.
- Keep doing rescue breaths for about 3 to 5 minutes.
- If they still aren’t breathing regularly, give them another dose of naloxone.
- Repeat rescue breathing and doses of naloxone until the ambulance arrives or the person begins to breathe and wakes again.
Always call 000 when a person has overdosed, even if you are using naloxone. The person may still need medical care.
Getting Naloxone in prison
Every prison and correction centre in Australia has different practices when it comes to overdose training and naloxone.
- On release – Some prisons offer training to people who want to know how to use naloxone. It is usually offered during other education sessions about drugs, or close to a person’s release date. People in prison usually can’t get naloxone while they are locked up but may be given it when they are leaving, or will be told where they can get it once they are out.
- Corrections and health staff – Naloxone is available to health workers in most Australian prisons and corrections centres and sometimes guards in prisons and corrections centres so that they can help if a prisoner overdoses.
- Many people who work in policy, advocacy and health are trying to make sure prisons and corrections services can provide naloxone to everyone.
Getting Naloxone after release
Leaving a prison or corrections service is an extremely risky time for people who use drugs. People who use heroin or other opioids can lose their tolerance after even a few days without using. This means you can’t use as much of the drug as you might have used before you went in, and because drugs like heroin are illegal, it is really hard to know how much you previously used and how much you can use after you are released.
When you leave prison, you can get naloxone in many places. It might seem like a hassle but having naloxone can save your life or the life of someone else you care about. It is free in most places, and you do not need a prescription
or ID.
- DUOs: The AIVL Network of peer-based harm reduction and Drug User Organisations in every capital city and some regional and rural locations can provide you with free naloxone, overdose training, and support.
- Needle and Syringe Programs (NSPs): Most NSPs in Australia provide free naloxone and teach you how to use it.
- Pharmacies: Many community and hospital pharmacies give out free naloxone without a prescription.
Staying safe
- Try not to use opioids alone. Have someone nearby who can help if needed.
- Use less if you haven’t used in a while or you don’t know how strong the gear is.
- Carry naloxone. Make sure people around you know where it is and how to use it.
- Avoid mixing opioids with other drugs, especially depressant drugs like alcohol, benzodiazepines (valium, temazepam), and some other medications.
AIVL will continue to work alongside others to ensure the best healthcare for people in prisons, corrections centres, and the community. To learn more about our work and how you can get involved, visit www.aivl.org.au, call 1800-692485 (MYAIVL), and mail at A1/35-39 Bourke Road Alexandria NSW 2015.
Ask the Doctor: Heart Attack
By Harley
A heart attack occurs when there is blockage in the heart’s own blood supply.
Health
ISSUE NO. 20
•
2 MIN READ
Why Do I Feel Lonely When I’m Surrounded by People?
By Annalise de Groot
Loneliness is a pervasive, all-encompassing state comprised of many unpleasant and distressing feelings. It is distinct from being alone, or from being socially isolated.
Health
ISSUE NO. 20
•
8 MIN READ
Yoga for Good Digestion
Reprinted with permission from Inside Time
Determined to make positive changes in life? It can start with digestion!
Health
ISSUE NO. 19
•
2 MIN READ
Ask the Doctor: Stroke
By Harley Stiebel
A stroke describes death to brain tissue caused by disrupted blood supply.
Health