The only real hoop you have to jump through is to go through the online training course which takes about 30 minutes and is all about administration of the drug
I received my package today and feel it’s important to have around with the current rise in opioid overdoses.
Their kit does not include CPR masks so I recommend purchasing some to keep with your doses. (Won’t share a link due to Amazon boycott)
I would’ve bought some ages ago if I lived in a bigger city.
Is it handy to have some even if you’re not a user and aren’t regularly around users? What else does the course cover? I took a brief look on the website and couldn’t find an FAQ or something like that.
Yes. At least keep some in your home where you know where it is. You never know when grandma might forget that she’s already taken her pain meds, or a kid drinks too much of the wrong cough syrup, or (and I mean this in the least judgemental way possible) a friend hides their habit from you. Or literally any of those things (or a million other possibilities) happens to your next door neighbor.
You should also know that one dose often isn’t enough, and they may re-overdose when it wears off, so at the very least stay with them until emergency services show up. Also, there is a moderate chance they will be violent when you resuscitate them, so be weary. Do not get on your knees for example, keep at least one foot planted so that you can rapidly extricate yourself if they come up angry.
If you’re Canadian, you can walk into most pharmacies and they will give you a kit for free and provide brief training on the spot.
I can’t remember which website it was but you can also get it for free, delivered by mail in Ontario.
Avoid storing it in extreme heat or cold since it degrades the naloxone. But degraded “carcan” is better than none.
Word.
Even though I stopped taking opiates for pain management, I still keep a supply of naloxone. It’s just too easy to keep around when it’s so easy for people to OD.
In Oakland, some bars have it and give it away. If you’re in a city that has a large unhoused population, it’s prudent to notice whether establishments in your area may do the same.
Sometimes local festivals will have tents giving out OD kits too, worth keeping an eye out. That’s how I’ve kept my house stocked haha
