►
Description
Naloxone saves lives.
Opioid overdoses are reversible and using Narcan is simple, but it must be available at the right time to someone who knows how to use it. The City of Boston’s drug user health program, AHOPE, created a video to demonstrate how to respond in the event of an opioid overdose, and how to administer naloxone (Narcan).
A
Every
person
who
uses
drugs
puts
themselves
at
risk
for
an
overdose,
regardless
of
the
way
that
they're
putting
the
drug
into
their
body
could
be
smoking
it,
injecting
it
swallowing
pills.
Drug
overdose
is
now
the
leading
cause
of
accidental
death
in
the
united
states
and
opiate
addiction
is
driving.
The
epidemic.
A
A
People
are
at
higher
risk
of
an
overdose
after
a
period
of
abstinence
are
not
using
even
as
little
as
two
days
and
people
who
are
coming
out
of
treatment
programs
such
as
detox
or
being
released
from
jail.
Those
folks
are
also
at
higher
risk.
Tolerance
decreases
after
the
period
of
abstinence
or
non-use
and
the
risk
for
overdose
increases,
and
after
someone
has
overdosed
once
they
are
much
more
likely
to
overdose
again.
A
A
An
overdose
is
different
from
just
being
high.
So
if
you
come
upon,
someone
who
looks
like
they
might
be
in
trouble.
First,
look
for
the
signs
of
overdose,
look
for
blue
lips
and
fingertips
and
check
their
breathing
if
it
is
slow
or
labored,
or
if
they've
stopped
breathing
altogether
try
to
get
the
person
to
respond
to
you
verbally
first
gently
shake
the
person.
If
there's
no
response.
A
If
the
person
still
doesn't
respond,
perform
a
sternal
rub
and
in
the
past
people
have
used
old
school
methods
like
ice
slapping,
kicking
or
burning
to
try
to
bring
somebody
back.
But
a
strong
sternal
rub
is
the
safest
test.
Rub
your
knuckles
firmly
on
their
breastbone
for
five
to
ten
seconds
as
hard
as
you
can,
and
if
the
person
does
not
respond
to
that
amount
of
pain
stimulus.
You
know
that
you
have
a
medical
emergency.
You
must
call
9-1-1.
B
A
A
First
place
the
person
on
their
back
make
sure
that
person's
airway
is
clear.
Do
a
quick
sweep
with
two
fingers
and
make
sure
that
there's
nothing
blocking
the
airway
like
food
or
gum,
and
if
there
is,
you
should
remove
it
place
a
hand
gently
under
their
chin
and
gently
tilt
their
head
back
pinch.
The
nose
create
a
tight
seal
between
your
mouth
and
theirs.
A
Turn
your
head
after
each
breath
to
ensure
the
chest
is
rising
and
falling
if
their
chest
is
not
rising
and
falling,
go
back
to
step
one
and
check
to
make
sure
that
there's
nothing
blocking
the
airway
or
gently
tilt
their
head
back
a
little
bit
more
to
open
up
the
airway
after
the
two
initial
breaths
breathe.
Once
every
five
seconds.
A
Naloxone
or
narcan
is
a
drug
that
can
temporarily
reverse
the
effects
of
an
opiate
overdose.
There
are
things
that
everybody
needs
to
know
about:
narcan,
first
narcan
only
works
on
opioids
narcan
cannot
be
abused
and
it
is
not
addictive.
Narcan
wears
off
in
about
30
to
90
minutes
or
so.
So
it's
a
very
temporary
solution
to
buy
you
some
time
before
medical
intervention.
A
A
If
the
person
does
not
come
back
in
about
three
to
five
minutes,
administer
a
second
dose
of
narcan
and
continue
to
provide
rescue
breathing
in
the
event
that
you
have
to
leave
the
person
alone
make
sure
to
put
them
in
the
recovery
position,
which
means
lying
the
person
slightly
on
their
side,
their
body,
supported
by
a
bent
knee
with
their
face,
turned
to
the
side.
This
will
help
to
keep
their
airway
clear
and
prevent
them
from
choking
in
the
event
that
they
throw
up
after
the
narcan
is
delivered.
A
A
Talk
to
your
loved
ones,
about
overdose
and
have
honest
conversation
and
come
up
with
a
safety
plan.
Make
sure
that
everyone
knows
how
to
use
narcan.
Everyone
knows
how
to
perform
rescue
breathing,
and
everyone
knows
to
call
for
help
following
these
steps
can
mean
the
difference
between
life
and
death.