You can now access naloxone at Crew! A recent update to the law around the provision of naloxone, a life-saving medicine that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, means that Crew can now supply free kits to anyone over the age of 16.
Take Home Naloxone (THN) has been available in Scotland since 2010. Up until recently only certain services were able to supply people with naloxone. Due to limitations on face to face services since the beginning of the pandemic the opportunity to hand out naloxone has been widened meaning that more services than before can be a naloxone supply point.
How does naloxone work?
Naloxone reverses the effects of an opioid overdose by ‘kicking’ the opioid (such as heroin, methadone) out of the opioid receptors in the brain. Once the opioids are kicked out and naloxone attaches to the receptors in their place, normal breathing and heart rate will resume. The reversal effects of naloxone usually last for around 20-30 minutes. After this time the person could go back into overdose so it is important to stay with them and encourage them to accept medical help.
The provision of naloxone kits containing syringes pre-filled with a naloxone hydrochloride solution, is the most common way that naloxone is distributed in Scotland and is the kind of kits Crew will currently be handing out. These are designed to be administered by intramuscular (IM) injection and they are also known by the brand name Prenoxad. In some areas, naloxone is available as a nasal spray device, under the brand name Nyxoid.
It takes two minutes to save a life. For the year 2019 Scotland recorded 1092 opioid-related deaths. Each of these deaths were preventable. You can save someone’s life by carrying and administering naloxone. Encourage anyone you know to to access naloxone too.
Get Naloxone – book your slot here
Visit www.crew.scot/get-naloxone to book a slot to collect your free naloxone kit from our Edinburgh Drop-in. Not in Edinburgh? Order a naloxone kit by post from Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs
