How should I give naloxone?
1. Wash your hands
2. Wake them up
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- Shake shoulders and ask, “are you alright”.
- Rub your knuckles up and down the breast bone.
3. If they don’t wake, call 911
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- You will not get in trouble for drug use or possession.
- First responders will have more naloxone.
4. Give naloxone
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- Give second dose after 2-3 minutes if they haven’t started breathing again.
5. Do Rescue Breathing
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- If you live with the Individual:
- Remove any airway blockages.
- Tilt head back, lift chin, pinch nose.
- Using your rescue breathing shield, give 1 breath every 5 seconds.
- Continue until they start breathing or help arrives.
- If you do not live with the individual:
- If you know how to provide CPR, we ask that you don’t use rescue breaths. Use chest compressions only during this time.
- If you don’t know CPR, please stay with the individual until help arrives.
- If you live with the Individual:
6. Provide Post Care
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- Place them on their side and put their hands under their head to prevent choking on vomit.
- If a person was given Naloxone, stay with them until help arrives. Naloxone wears off in 30-90 minutes.
7. Wash your hands and then face with soap and water.
Please see training video for additional information:
http://howtoadministernaloxone.maryland.gov/
How can I get naloxone?
Walk-in availability
Walk-in services to all Harford County Health Department sites are unavailable until communicated otherwise. This includes our naloxone programs.
ShopRite Narcan® Program
Those in need of no-cost naloxone should go to any Klein’s ShopRite pharmacy in Harford County (Aberdeen, Bel Air-Main Street, Bel Air-Festival, Cardiff, Forest Hill, and Riverside). Individuals should tell pharmacy staff if they are uninsured or cannot afford their copay and will then complete a form to receive Narcan® at no cost.
Community-based access
For anyone unable to access a ShopRite pharmacy location or in the event of grocery store or pharmacy closures, call us at (410) 612-1779 between 8am and 5pm and ask for Narcan®. Callers will be directed to an Overdose Response Program staff member who can facilitate community-based access, usually the same day.
Mail-order
If all of these options become unavailable or none meet an individual’s needs, the NEXT Distro-Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition partnership makes free naloxone available via mail in Maryland. Request it at: naloxoneforall.org/maryland.
