Overdose Prevention and Naloxone

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Signs of Overdose

Pinpoint pupils
Pallor (pale skin colour)
Cyanosis (blue tinge to lips and fingernails)
Breathing problems e.g. slow/shallow breaths, not breathing
Snoring deeply – this is often mistaken for sleeping
Unconsciousness

Overdose can be described as a process and therefore it is important to be aware that the effects can kick-in hours after an initial hit.

What to do

Useful life-saving action you could take if you think someone has overdose.

If you or the person has naloxone, you can give them this to buy time until the Emergency Services arrive.

If the person is breathing normally:

Put in recovery position – see image
Dial 999
Stay with them and monitor their condition until help arrives

If the person is NOT breathing normally:

Dial 999
Perform CPR – if able
Stay with them until help arrives

Naloxone

Naloxone is an opioid antagonist; a drug which can temporarily reverse the effects of a potentially fatal overdose involving opioid drugs such as heroin, morphine or methadone.

There are two options for Take Home Naloxone in Tayside:

Prenoxad – an intramuscular preparation

(syringe contains five doses)

Nyxoid – a nasal spray

(pack contains two single use nasal sprays)

Why is it Important?

Intramuscular injection of naloxone is a first aid emergency response to overdose and provides more time for emergency services to attend and medical care to be given. Supplies of ‘take home’ naloxone (THN) kits are made, along with training on overdose awareness, to people at risk of opioid overdose, their friends and families and members of the community to reduce the risk of death.

Key Points

Naloxone counteracts opiates for around 20-30 minutes
It does not rid the body of opiates
It has no effect on alcohol
It does not reverse the effect of non-opiate drugs, although they can contribute to overdose in combination with an opiate
It will buy time until an ambulance arrives

In an emergency ANYONE can legally administer Naloxone to save a life.

Get Naloxone

To get a supply or re-supply of naloxone in Tayside, talk to harm reduction staff or your key worker.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer online ordering of Naloxone but, if you need a supply call Hillcrest Futures on 01382 496745.

Alternatively, you can click here to order Naloxone supplies from Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol & Drugs.

If you are interested in finding out more information on preventing overdose and how to give naloxone, Scottish Drugs Forum has created a free short e-learning courses on opiate overdose prevention, intervention and naloxone.

We recommend completing this online training to anybody who would like a naloxone kit or before using naloxone.

SDF Training

How to use naloxone

These short videos show how to administer intramuscular and nasal naloxone.

Naloxone Kit Preparation

How to administer Prenoxad

How to administer naloxone nasal spray

Tayside Naloxone Programme

To supply naloxone (supplying in advance when there is no emergency, but a person is at risk of an opiate overdose) you must attend Naloxone T4T (training for trainers) programme and be an approved supplier. Approved suppliers can include nurses, pharmacists and staff working in third sector services.

For more information and to book training click here

Please note that ANY staff member can train someone on the signs of overdose and how to use naloxone after they have attended the Naloxone T4T training, however, currently in Tayside only certain staff can supply naloxone.