Getting naloxone

Naloxone is a prescription medicine that can temporarily reverse the effects of opioids. It can help prevent death from an overdose.

If you are at risk of an opioid overdose, you can get a naloxone kit through your GP or other services. You may also get a naloxone kit if you start treatment with methadone or buprenorphine.

When you get a kit, the service will:

• explain how to use the kit in an emergency
• give you advice to reduce your risk of overdose
• help you to create a rescue plan

Where to get a naloxone kit

You can get a naloxone kit through:

• GPs
• drug and alcohol services
• homelessness services
• prison services - when you are released from prison

The service may ask you about your health and history of drug use. They can help you to make an overdose rescue plan if you want that.

The drugs and alcohol helpline can give you information about services that provide naloxone.

Making a rescue plan

Naloxone is only effective if there’s someone to give it to you. The service that gives you the naloxone can help you to make a rescue plan.

This may be that you:

• have someone with you when you use
• use a buddy system if possible - agree with your buddy what you both can do in case of an overdose
• give a naloxone kit to another person - this could be a family member, friend or someone who is around you when you use
• tell the person where you keep your naloxone
• tell people the signs of an opioid overdose

The service can give you advice to reduce your risk of overdose depending on your situation.

Reducing risks from opioids

Learning how to use a naloxone kit

Naloxone can come as an injection or a nasal spray. They come with instructions on how to use them.

When you get a kit, the service will explain how to use it.

You can also read our guides on using naloxone.

Using a naloxone injection

Using a naloxone nasal spray

Getting replacement naloxone

Ask the service for a replacement kit if you use or lose your naloxone. The service may ask you if you used the naloxone.

If your naloxone expires, bring it back to the service to get a replacement.