Washington is receiving more than 54,000 naloxone kits that reverse opioid overdoses, and you can order them by mail for free.
As part of its $90.7 million settlement with Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, Teva Pharmaceuticals is providing those kits for a two-year period. Ferguson had sued the company for its contribution to the opioid epidemic.
Naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan, blocks opioid receptors in the brain. While Narcan is available over the counter at most pharmacies in the state, the mail order option is meant to increase access, especially for those who worry about the trial, can’t afford to pay or are unable to go to a pharmacy.
Narcan Mail Order Program
Opioid overdose reversal kits are distributed through the State Department of Health. The program is managed by the People’s Harm Reduction Alliance, a community-based non-profit organization that provides health and harm reduction services to drug users in the Pacific Northwest.
To order a kit, simply fill out an online form with shipping information at st.news/naloxoneWA and a few additional questions. You will receive the package at no cost.
“These kits will save lives,” Ferguson said in the latest news release.
After you receive the kit, you should store naloxone at room temperature out of direct light. Make sure everyone in the house knows where it is stored and that it can be easily accessed.
You will need to replace your stock after using one or both doses, if the kit is damaged or close to the expiration date.
But to maintain stock, individuals are required to place no more than one order per month. The program is intended for households and individuals, and multiple people can order for the same household.
How to use naloxone
Naloxone is meant to be used when a person shows signs of an opioid overdose.
According to the state Department of Health, signs of an opioid overdose include:
- Unresponsive, unable to wake up, even when shocked
- Not breathing or abnormal breathing (one breath every 3-5 seconds)
- Blue, deliberate or gray color on the skin, lips, fingertips
If you witness what appears to be an overdose, the Department of Health recommends acting quickly. The state’s Good Samaritan law protects people who act in an emergency situation, even if drugs are involved. If you are providing first aid, transportation or other rescue actions during an emergency, including an overdose, you are protected from criminal implications.
The following steps are recommended by the Department of Health to help anyone who may overdose:
1. Check for signs of overdose, look for an answer. Try rubbing your knuckles firmly in the center of their chest.
2. Call 911. Give the operator your exact location and say you are with someone who is not breathing. You do not have to disclose drug or medication information, but you must tell the operator that you will be administering naloxone. Follow any instructions the operator gives.
3. Administer naloxone. The nasal spray version is ready to use and works only once. No testing required. Simply remove the device from the packaging, place the tip of the nose in each of the nostrils and press the plunger to forcefully release the dose into their nose. For the injection version, remove the cap from the bottle and expose the needle. Insert the needle through the rubber stopper while the bottle is upside down. Pull the plunger to draw 1 ml. Inject 1 ml into the arm or thigh muscle.
4. Check their breathing. Narcan takes a few minutes to start working, so check his breathing for the next few minutes. If they are not breathing or breathing shallowly, start rescue breaths. Make sure they are flat on their back, gently tilt their head back and pinch their nose. Give two quick breaths into their mouth and you should see their chest rise, not their stomach. Give a slow breath every five seconds until they wake up or start breathing. Roll them on their side in a recovery position if they are breathing but not waking up.
5. If there is no response after three minutes, give another dose.
6. Stay there until help arrives you are protected under state law.
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