Naloxone and Opioid Poisoning Prevention

The Northwestern Health Unit works with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to prevent opioid overdoses in our community by offering free and confidential naloxone training and kits. Naloxone Kits are free and do not require a prescription.

Naloxone is a medication that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose. Naloxone kits are available to individuals at risk of an opioid overdose, as well as their friends, family, and supporters of people who use opioids

Getting a Naloxone kit

You can get a Naloxone kit and training by contacting your local health unit for an appointment.

At your appointment to get Naloxone you will need to:

• Do a short training session with a trained staff member (approx. 20 minutes).
• Complete a brief form.

All information discussed in the training session is confidential.

You can also get a naloxone kit from some community agencies and some pharmacies; just call ahead to find out. You can also use Ontario’s Where to get a free naloxone kit page to find where to get a naloxone kit across Ontario.

Using a Naloxone kit

To use a Naloxone kit, you can do the following:

1. Call 911.
2. Peel back the package to remove the device.  
3. Place: 
   1. The person on their back. 
   2. Thumb on the bottom of the plunger with 2 fingers on the nozzle. 
   3. The tip of the nozzle into the nostril until fingers touch the bottom of the person’s nose. 
4. Press the plunger firmly to release the dose into the patient’s nose. 
5. Begin chest compressions and/or rescue breathes as you are able. 
6. Repeat the dose if no response in 2 min or if the person becomes unconscious again. Alternate nostrils.

If you would like more information you can call your local health unit or visit one of our needle distribution sites.