What is naloxone?

Naloxone is the antidote that reverses an opioid overdose. It is what emergency medical services and hospital emergency departments use to reverse overdoses. It's 100% legal and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is a prescription medication that has been used for decades in the United States. It works by neutralizing the opioids in your system and helping you to breathe again. Naloxone only works if a person has opioids in their system; the medication has no effect if opioids are absent. You can't get high from it and it is safe for nearly everyone. It has been used in programs all over the world to effectively reverse opioid overdoses. It's a lifesaver, there's no doubt about it. In Wilkes County, we are using a formulation of it that you can squirt up someone's nose. No needles, no injections.

Overdose is a major and often overlooked cause of death among people who use heroin or prescription opioids. Yet there is a safe and effective treatment: the medication naloxone.

This public health fact sheet describes how naloxone is successfully being used to reverse overdose around the world with no side effects beyond opiate withdrawal. It provides real-life examples of programs that have trained drug users, their families and friends to efficiently identify the signs of overdose, administer naloxone, and often, save lives. And, it explains in-depth why naloxone is an invaluable tool for empowering communities to protect their health. Read More About Naloxone...

But does it work? Yes. I'm the Evidence. Naloxone Works.