POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 73 NOVA SCOTIA TAKE HOME NALOXONE PROGRAM continued Participating community pharmacies, will provide free naloxone kits to individuals who: • are at risk for opioid overdose* • are likely to witness and respond to an overdose, such as family and friends of people who are at risk of overdose * It has been determined that fentanyl has tainted the illegal drug supply in Canada, often unbeknownst to people who use drugs. Anyone who uses illegal drugs should be considered at risk for opioid overdose. Individuals must complete basic opioid overdose/naloxone administration training and be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of all training components, before the pharmacist can provide the naloxone kit. The training session happens right in the pharmacy and is about 20 minutes long. Individuals and groups who don’t meet the eligibility criteria can contact their local pharmacy to discuss ordering kits and obtaining the required training. Accessibility and cost may vary by pharmacy. When Should I Use the Kit/ What is An Overdose? An overdose is taking too much of a substance, whether it’s prescription, over-the-counter, legal, or illegal. Drug overdoses may be accidental or intentional. If you’ve taken more than the recommended amount of a drug or enough to have a harmful effect on your body’s functions, you have overdosed. Illegal drugs, used to get high, may be taken in overdose amounts when a person's metabolism cannot detoxify the drug fast enough to avoid unintended side effects. Symptoms of an Overdose: ➭ Trouble walking or talking ➭ Won't wake up ➭ Difficulty breathing, gurgling sounds, or unusual snoring ➭ Cold, clammy skin ➭ Grey, purple or blue lips or nails ➭ Tiny pupils What is a "nod"? ➭ Signs of Nodding include: ➭ Closed eyes ➭ Drooping head ➭ Person appears to be sleeping ➭ Person CAN respond to stimuli/stimulation How is it different from an overdose? Person CANNOT respond to stimuli/stimulation when they overdose. NODDING = over sedation OVERDOSE = medical emergency Visit www.nsnaloxone.com to learn more. www.nshealth.ca www.nsnaloxone.com
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0NTk1OA==