Naloxone can reverse the effects of an opioid-related overdose for a short time. It buys a person time until an ambulance arrives, or they can be seen by a medical professional.
Anyone in Scotland who is likely to find someone experiencing an overdose in their family, their community, their workplace or in a public place can request a naloxone kit and training in its use.
NALOXONE
WHAT IS NALOXONE?
Naloxone is a medication that can temporarily reverse the effects of opioid drugs like codeine, morphine, tramadol, fentanyl, heroin, methadone and buprenorphine.
Most overdoses involve multiple substances. It should always be suspected that opioids are involved, given their presence in 84% of deaths in Scotland.
In Scotland, naloxone kits can come as either a pre-filled syringe that you can find out how to use here. Or as a nasal spray that you can find out how to use here.
In the UK it is legal for anyone to administer naloxone to anyone for the purpose of saving a life, regardless of whether or not they have had training.
Administering naloxone is not a substitute for calling an ambulance
HOW IT WORKS
Naloxone is a medication that counters the effects of heroin and other opioids by reversing respiratory depression caused by these drugs.
Naloxone works by competing with opioids for a space on the opioid receptors in the brain. Thanks to its ability to compete and control the specific opioid receptors, naloxone can reverse the effects (e.g., respiratory depression) that were caused by heroin (or another opioid) by blocking the receptors.
Naloxone produces effects only if opioids are present in the body. It will be inactive if no opioids are present. Naloxone therefore is a medication that would have no effect on a person who had no opioids in their system.
HOW TO GET NALOXONE
Naloxone is mainly available via drug treatment services and pharmacies. This may differ slightly from area to area.
Due to an amendment in Scotland, there are a number of services accessed by people who use drugs that may have naloxone available, such as homelessness services, family support, peer-led projects, criminal justice, social work and more.
The Scottish Ambulance Service can also provide people with naloxone following their attendance at a near-fatal overdose.
If you reside in Scotland, you can request a naloxone kit through the Click and Deliver service established through Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs.
Naloxone is provided free of charge from all of these services.
I CARRY NALOXONE
You can save a life. Recognising the signs of an overdose; calling 999 and administering naloxone are all crucial steps... You, anyone in Scotland, can request naloxone for free. Here people explain why they choose to carry naloxone...
#StopTheDeaths
To view our ‘I Carry Naloxone’ series click below
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should carry naloxone?
Anyone who is in a situation where they may be with or find someone who is experiencing an overdose. This can include staff working in drug services, hostel workers, the police, family members but most importantly people who use drugs People who use drugs are the most likely group to be there when someone overdoses and as such become first responders.
Are there any side effects to using naloxone?
Like other medicines, naloxone can cause side effects in some individuals. However, because you normally give naloxone to an individual you believe is facing an imminent fatal overdose, such risks of side effects are largely irrelevant in the decision on whether to use it or not.
Side-effects are most commonly withdrawal symptoms caused by the removal of opioids from the receptors. These symptoms persist for the duration of naloxone being active (around 20-30 minutes)
Who can be supplied with take-home naloxone?
Regulations do not limit supply to specific individuals, except to state that the “supply shall be for the purpose of saving life in an emergency”. Therefore, services can supply naloxone to:
a person who uses drugs
an outreach worker
a hostel manager
carer, a friend, or a family member of a person who uses drugs
any individual working in an environment where there is a risk of overdose for which the naloxone may be useful
Can someone under 18 be supplied with naloxone?
There is no legal restriction under the legislation on the supply to children or young persons of naloxone by a drug treatment service. However, any decision to supply naloxone to a child would need very careful consideration and oversight and would need to be made on a case-by-case basis.
The products available in the UK state that the injectable version can be provided to over 16s and the nasal spray to over 14s.
You can administer naloxone in an emergency to anyone of any age.
Storing and using naloxone
There are no legally set protocols on storing and using naloxone. It does not need to be in a fridge, for example.
However, if you have naloxone in your place of work, it is good practice to ensure that you have robust protocols in place covering use of naloxone, for example, training, record keeping, storage, access and use in emergency.