POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 71 The Nova Scotia Take Home Naloxone (THN) Program, provides opioid overdose prevention/naloxone training and free take home naloxone kits to Nova Scotians at risk of opioid overdose and their loved ones.The aim is to prevent opioid overdoses and related death from occurring in Nova Scotian communities. Naloxone kits are available free of charge to anyone at risk of opioid overdose. Family and friends can also get a kit. What is Naloxone? Naloxone is used to treat an opioid overdose. Naloxone is a temporary antidote that buys time for paramedics to arrive. If not taken to the hospital the overdose victim can fall back into the overdose within 30 minutes. This medicine should not be used in place of emergency medical care. Once administered, Naloxone will start to work in approximately 1-5 minutes. Naloxone stays active in the body for about 30-60-90 minutes. Since Naloxone only temporarily reverses an opioid overdose, it is important to call 911 before administering naloxone. Naloxone will work only for drugs in the opioid family. However, if an overdose involves multiple substances, including opioids, naloxone helps by temporarily removing the opioid. Naloxone will not cause harm if administered in the absence of opioids. The NS Take Home Naloxone Program provides naloxone that can be injected intramuscularly (upper shoulder or upper thigh). Naloxone has been approved for use in Canada for over 40 years and is on the World Health Organization List of Essential Medicines. What is a Naloxone Kit? A fully assembled Naloxone Kit includes: • 2 ampoules of SOS Naloxone 0.4mg/ML (Sandoz) • 2VanishPoint 3cc 26G 1” Syringes • 2 Ampoule Breakers • 1 Pocket Breathing Mask • 2 Nitrile Gloves • 2 Alcohol Swabs • Pill Bottle • 1 step-by-step THN instruction pamphlet • 1 training card Here are two examples of kits available in Nova Scotia. KITTIPS • Keep your kit on you at all times • Keep your kit at room temperature, NOT in a car • Keep an eye on the expiration date (marked on each ampoule) • Routinely check that all supplies are in your naloxone kit • Tell everyone you have a kit • If you use your kit, go to one of the registered sites for a refill Who Can Get aTake Home Naloxone Kit? You do not need a prescription or an NS Health Card number to get a kit. Go to your nearest pharmacy and speak with a pharmacist about getting a kit. NOVA SCOTIATAKE HOME NALOXONE PROGRAM continued 1-833-347-2142
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