What is Naloxone?
Naloxone, or Narcan®, is an antidote to opioid overdose. One side effect of opioids (e.g. dilaudid, morphine, heroin, methadone, fentanyl etc.) can be a slowing or stopping of breathing. Naloxone can reverse this effect and restore normal breathing and consciousness. Giving naloxone can prevent death or brain damage from lack of oxygen during an opioid overdose. It does not work for non-opioid overdoses, such as cocaine, ecstasy, GHB or alcohol. However, if an overdose involves multiple substances including opioids, naloxone helps by temporarily removing the opioid from the equation.
Injectable Naloxone
The BC Take Home Naloxone program supplies injectable naloxone which should be given in a muscle. You can inject naloxone through clothing into the muscle of the upper arm, upper leg, or buttock. Safety needles are provided in each naloxone kit to avoid needle-stick injuries, and to facilitate safe needle disposal.
Source: Toward the Heart
Nasal Naloxone
As part of the ongoing strategy to reduce harm from opioid drug use and save lives, the First Nations Health Authority has added naloxone nasal spray as a benefit effective April 4, 2018. Nasal naloxone is the same chemical compound as injectable naloxone. Both reverse the effects of an opioid overdose; the only difference is the delivery method.
Adding nasal naloxone as a drug benefit is intended to save lives. For people with a discomfort or fear of needles it is easier to administer than injectable naloxone and can carry less stigma in some communities. The FNHA encourages those at risk of an opioid overdose, and people close to them, to have a naloxone kit, whether it is injectable or nasal, and the training to use it.
To access nasal naloxone in our region, members of Tla’amin Nation are encouraged to reach out to the Tla’amin Health Centre or contacting peer outreach workers in the Nation.
Source: First Nations Health Authority
Naloxone Training
We offer free education and training for all interest qathet community members. We train individuals, groups, and businesses through one-to-one sessions and group workshops.
Please fill out the contact information below to request training now!