Naltrexone For Undomiciled Individuals

It can be very helpful and even lifesaving to provide undomiciled individuals with a medication called Naloxone (the brand name is Narcan). It is also very useful for anyone who works with or is regularly around undomiciled individuals to have this medication on hand and know how to use it. This medication is designed to reverse an opioid overdose. Examples of opioids are heroin and prescription pain medications such as Oxycontin and Oxycodone. Some people who are undomiciled are opioid users or they may know or observe opioid users. If they have Naloxone, they may be able to save a life if they see someone overdose or someone may be able to save their life if they do.

There are two kinds of Naltrexone. One is injected using a syringe and the other is the nasal version which is sprayed into the nose. The syringe version is cheaper but harder to use. In many states, you can get this medication in a drug store with no prescription. Some places like Chicago even have it available in the public library and some transit stations. If you think someone has overdosed on an opioid, giving them Naloxone can save their life. You should also dial 911 in case emergency medical care is also needed. Be sure the person is turned on their side so they don’t choke on their own vomit if they throw up. If you are training to administer CPR you may need to do that as well. But what do you do if you are not sure if the person used an opioid or not? If it turns out they used another drug then the Naloxone will have no negative effect.

You do not need any special training to administer Naloxone other than watching a training video such as this one: Training | Toward the Heart

If you give someone Naloxone, the effects of the opioid will stop. This could save their life, which is obviously good. But it will also mean that any high they are getting the drug will end. So, the person may be angry and upset that they are no longer experiencing the high. It can be confusing to save someone’s life and have them be angry, but this could happen. Also, do you have to worry that someone you give Naloxone to might try to say you harmed them while administering the drug and try to sue you? In many states, there are laws called Good Samaritan Law which protect people who administer this drug from the possibility of legal action.

If someone has used heroin which has another strong opioid added to it called Fentanyl, you might need to use two doses of Naloxone. And depending on how much Fentanyl was added, even two doses may not be enough. There are also some newer very strong drugs on the street like one called Tranq which are not opioids. This drug can cause fatal overdoses but Naltrexone will not reverse this overdose.

Making this life-saving drug available to people who are living on the streets can help save lives.