Naloxone is a short-acting drug that temporarily reverses opioid overdoses but does not remove opioids from the body, so individuals may become unconscious again once its effects wear off in 20-30 minutes. It is crucial to call emergency services as soon as naloxone is administered and stay with the person until medical help arrives, as naloxone only buys time until definitive medical treatment can be provided.
Asset based community development presentation 2012
PRENOXAD INJECTION PRESENTATION (MAIN-2014)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10. Naloxone is short acting and does NOT get rid of opiate
drugs from the body.
Once naloxone wears off, (after about 20-30 minutes)
opiates will still be in the body and the person may
become unconscious/unresponsive again
It is very important to phone 999 and request an
ambulance as soon as possible
Naloxone will keep someone alive until medical help
arrives
Prenoxad Injection is the only licensed form of Nakoxone available for community provision. It comes in a pre-filled 5 dose syringe. Each dose being 0.4mls. At last evaluation it was present in the reversal of over 10,000 overdose situation in the US alone. In contrast, the UK has had over 26,000 drug related fatalities since 2002.
80% of overdose situations are witnessed by another, yet 80% of overdose situations are also found alone by emergency services. Overdoses do not always happen immediately and can take up to several hours to occur. Someone who has a recent record of overdoses is at higher risk.
Naloxone only works on opioid substances, both natural and synthetic. It does however take longer with synthetic opioids and a slow release infusion is more effective in full reversal, hence the importance of calling the emergenct services. If there is poly drug use, Naloxone is still used to reduce the risks. If the individual is in a coma like state and there is no evidence of illicit use then Naloxone can still be used to elliminate the possibility of opioid related overdose. 7 out of 10 overdose situations are prescription substances rather than illicit. Overdose, if left to conitue at the rate it is currently escalating could potentially become the next financial crisis.
High risk situations are numerous....
So, what is Naloxone and what does it do?
Preperation of Naloxone kits are simply.
How does it work? It completely knocks the opioid off the receptors in the brain and sticks to the receptor blocking the opioid, it only has a half life of 20-40 minutes so risk of re-overdose is still imminent.
October 1ST has liften a number of the restrictions. Naloxone is still prescription drug but should be now available from any drug and alcohol services commissioned by local authorities, PHE, NHS. Also available from pharmacies that are commisioned to provide OST. And police surgeons are now able to supply any officers. There is no reason now why Naloxone should not be available from any of these outlets since new legislation came into effect.