NaloxAware

About NaloxAware

Here at NaloxAware, our goal is to educate underprivileged communities on the importance of Naloxone. It is not only important for Narcan to be available for those at risk of overdosing but also for bystanders. Naloxone is a highly effective anti-opioid agent and is not too troublesome for most to attain. It is carried by many pharmacies, but not all. NaloxAware hopes to make Narcan more accessible by supplying people with it directly. Factors which disrepute the strength of naloxone include a lack of awareness. Many communities lack access or information on THN kits making it difficult for better safety precautions for prescription medications to be installed. NaloxAware hopes to bring the power of naloxone into focus, as naloxone symbolizes second chances at life.

Opioid Overdose Narcan Kits

NaloxAware will be getting bulks of Opioid Overdose Narcan kits. We will be giving these kits out in areas where they're needed most, so anyone can help save a life if they see someone overdosing.

Why Naloxone?

Note that it is important to first understand how opioids work to understand Naloxone. Reversing an overdose within 2-5 minutes through Naloxone can work in 3 different forms, but all forms work towards the same overall goal. Naloxone can be given through nasal spray, injection under the skin, or injection into the veins. In the same way that substances reach the brain faster when injected, Naloxone works quickest when injected directly into the veins.

What Naloxone does do is replace and block the opioids on the nerve cells, prompting the reversal of respiratory depression as well as sedation. Please acknowledge that naloxone has no effect on non-opioid substances, such as; benzodiazepines, psychostimulants, barbiturates, alcohol, sedatives or marijuana. Naloxone given to someone who does not require it will have no additional effect on them, so do not be hesitant to use it. Furthermore, Naloxone may only be active for between 20-90 minutes while the lifespan of an opioid may last longer. This means that it is still very much necessary to dial 911 and it may be necessary to dose a person repeatedly. Training for naloxone is available from pharmacists, when purchased or attained. For more on using naloxone, check Using Naloxone on this page.

What is Naloxone?

Naloxone is a medication used to rapidly reverse the effects of opioid overdose. It works by binding to the opioid receptors in the brain and blocking the effects of opioids, such as slowed breathing or loss of consciousness.

One of the critical benefits of naloxone is its ability to help before emergency medical help arrives. When used upon a person experiencing an opioid overdose, naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing and consciousness, potentially saving their life. This rapid intervention can buy crucial time for the individual until professional medical assistance can be provided.

Naloxone is often distributed in the form of a nasal spray or an injectable solution, making it accessible for use by anyone with no special training. Its fast-acting nature and ease of use make naloxone a vital tool in combating opioid overdoses and preventing fatalities.

On Opioids

To understand Naloxone, the opioids it targets must be considered first. These opioids include; fentanyl, morphine, codeine, and heroin. Because these opioids are strong prescription medications, generally used for the purpose of pain relief, they are highly addictive. There are many different ways in which an opioid can be misused, such as; Consuming the medicine in a way which it is not intended to be (ex; taking more than the prescribed amount, insufflation, etc.), taking medicine which is not prescribed to you, taking medicine for the purpose of getting high. Misusing a drug often ends in overdose.

Similarly to a jigsaw puzzle, opioids attach to and trigger nerve cells in the brain which are classified as opioid receptors. These receptors are responsible for opioids pleasurable effects and pain reliever abilities. They work under the limbic system- targeting a person’s emotions, the brainstem- in charge of a human’s natural and automatic responses such as breathing, and the spinal cord- which receives sensory information before the brain reads it. When taken in generous amounts, these narcotics work stronger than necessary, causing a person’s breathing to slow, oxygen levels to deplete, and they may become unresponsive to physical stimulation. Preceding the low oxygen in the bloodstream, organs begin to fail, resulting in death. Narcan works to combat all of these symptoms.

Using Naloxone

Use SAVE-ME protocol: