Naloxone can reverse opioid overdose. Here’s why you might need some at home or in your bag

Opioids are some of the most widely used and misused drugs in the world.

Opioids are central nervous system depressants, meaning they slow down brain activity and relax the muscles. They include the natural products of the opium poppy as well as synthetic (human-made) compounds derived from it.

Commonly used opioids include heroin, morphine, opium, codeine, methadone, buprenorphine, oxycodone, fentanyl and the nitazenes. They might be prescribed by a doctor for very strong pain relief or taken non-medically to induce feelings of euphoria.

The major risk associated with opioids is overdose. Opioids are present in around 60% of drug-induced deaths in Australia.

A medicine called naloxone is available for Australians to take home in case of opioid overdose. Here’s how it works, when you should have it on hand and when you should use it.

What happens during opioid overdose?

All opioids depress respiration (slow or stop breathing) and overdose deaths are often the result of respiratory failure. Heart attack may also occur as following lack of oxygen.

How do you know a person has overdosed? There are three main signs of opioid overdose, the so-called “diagnostic triad”. These include:

• a slow breathing rate (possibly down to four breathes a minute)
• constricted or “pinpoint” pupils
• being unconscious and unable to be woken up.

These and other signs, such as confusion or cold and clammy skin, can also mean potent nitazenes have been added to drugs sold as cocaine, ketamine, methamphetamine or MDMA (ecstasy) without someone’s knowledge. Synthetic nitrazenes can be up to 50 times more potent than fentanyl.

Instant death following opioid overdose is unusual and there is usually time to intervene – but a quick response is very important.

Read more: Opioids more potent than fentanyl have been detected in Australia. So what are nitazenes?

An effective antidote

Fortunately, there is a highly effective antidote to opioid overdose.

Naloxone, known by brand names Nyxoid or Narcan, rapidly reverses the depression of the central nervous and respiratory systems caused by opioids.

It does so by attaching to the opioid receptors in the brain, and reversing or blocking the effects of the drug. It has traditionally been used in the form of pre-packaged syringes for injection into muscle but is now also available as a nasal spray, making it far more accessible and easier for bystanders to administer.

Australia’s take-home naloxone program began in 2022 and over 450,000 doses have reportedly been dispensed since.

In overdose cases, an intramuscular injection or nasal spray of naloxone can be given, with repeat doses if the person does not respond or slips back into overdose.

Both are effective but the nasal spray has advantages in the community because of its ease of use and because it doesn’t carry any risk of needle-stick injury. The nasal spray is intended for use by bystanders or first responders to give to a person who has overdosed. There is no need to sniff or inhale to get the full benefit.