Hot People Carry Naloxone
Whether or not you’ve heard of Naloxone, or Narcan (same thing, just a brand name of the medication), make sure you know what it is, where to get it, and why it’s hot to carry it. If you care about the safety and wellbeing of your community, this is a really simple and free way to action that care!
So… What is naloxone and how does it work?
Naloxone is a fast acting, lifesaving medication that temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, meaning it binds to the opioid receptors in the brain, and prevents opioids from binding to those receptors.
Naloxone works fast and can restore breathing within 2-3 minutes. This can be and often is LIFESAVING in an overdose. However, the effects of naloxone are temporary and generally only last for around an hour, but can last more or less time depending on the substance, the dose and the person’s tolerance. While naloxone is the first line of defence against opioid overdose, it’s important to seek further medical help, as the person can go back into overdose once the naloxone wears off.
As an opioid antagonist, naloxone’s only function is to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. This means it is safe to administer even if you aren’t certain the person has consumed opioids. This also means that it ONLY works if opioids are present and won’t have any effect in other cases of overdose, such as benzodiazepines or methamphetamine. If you are unsure of what someone has taken, but they are showing signs of an opioid overdose, always administer naloxone! Best case scenario, it is in fact an opioid overdose and the naloxone works. Worst case scenario, it’s not an opioid overdose and the naloxone doesn’t work, in which case the person will require further medical treatment.
What are opioids?
Opioids are a class of naturally occurring and synthetic substances, derived from the opium poppy. These substances bind to the opioid receptors in the brain, which slows down the signals between the central nervous system and the brain. This slows down the transmission of pain signals and release dopamine, resulting in pain relief and euphoria. Some opioids you may have heard of are; Heroin, Fentanyl, Nitazenes, Morphine, Opium, Codeine, Oxycodone and Methadone, but there are many more.
Find out more about opioids here.
What signs of opioid overdose should I look out for?
- Not breathing
- Consciousness
- Slow, shallow or strained breathing
- Deep snoring
- Disorientation
- Cold clammy skin
- Pinpoint pupils (tiny pupils)
- Discolouration around the lips and fingertips. Blue for lighter complexions or grey for darker complexions
What are the risks for experiencing an opioid overdose?
There are a few factors that put people at greater risk of experiencing and opioid overdose, these include:
- Taking a stronger dose than usual
- Taking a stronger or more potent drug
- Using drugs alone
- Mixing with alcohol or other drugs
- Changing routes of administration, ie switching from insufflating (snorting) to injecting
- Using drugs again after a period of not using
- Consuming drugs that have been adulterated with opioids
Why should I carry it?
In 2024, there has been a sharp increase in opioid adulterants in the NSW drug supply, with a concerning amount of drug alerts being identified so far this year. With more and more substances being adulterated (laced) with opioids, particularly nitazenes (learn more about nitazenes here), many people who have experienced an opioid overdose are not regular opioid users and have consumed opioids unknowingly. Opioid adulterants have so far been found in black market vape juice, fake benzodiazepines, substances sold as MDMA, ketamine, cocaine, methamphetamines and synthetic cannabinoids. See this year’s drug alerts here.
What all this means is that everyone who uses illicit drugs is at risk of experiencing an opioid overdose, not just those who regularly use opioids. In fact, people who don’t regularly use opioids may be at an increased risk, as their body may not have a tolerance to opioids and a smaller amount of opioids, particularly nitazenes, can be fatal.
What form does it come in?
Naloxone comes in two forms- a nasal spray called Nyxoid and an injection called prenoxad.
Nyxoid- Nasal spray. Each box of Nyxoid comes with two applicators. Each applicator contains a single dose. So there is 2 doses per box.
Prenoxad- Injection. Each pack contains a prefilled syringe that contains 5 doses.
One dose of Nyxoid is equivalent to one dose of prenoxad, so they are both equally effective, however the prenoxad does have more dosages.
Where can I get it from and how much does it cost?
You can pick up Naloxone from any of ACON’s Needle and Syringe Programs for FREE.
You can also check out Your Room, to find other participating NSPs and pharmacies.
Other important information:
Naloxone must be stored under 30 degrees. This means that it is not suitable to keep in your car during summer or hot days. Naloxone is best kept in a bag or first aid kit.
Naloxone is legal to possess and use, and use of naloxone on someone experiencing a suspected opioid overdose is covered under the Good Samaritans Act.
After receiving a dose of Naloxone, it’s important to avoid using opioids for up to 12 hours as there is in increased risk of re-overdosing as the Naloxone wears off, and the opioids may still be hanging out in your system. Be aware that different opioids have different potencies and will last different amounts of time in your system, always use caution when redosing after using naloxone.