Naloxone Kit

 Since my friend died of a fentanyl overdose a few months ago, I got a naloxone kit that I keep in the car. These are available for free at many pharmacies without a prescription. I used to carry a naloxone pill with me in the 90s, but I never gave it to anyone. These kits have two nasal sprays that you can use on people who are unconscious. Naloxone blocks the receptors in the body that react to opiates and similar drugs like fentanyl, so people who've overdosed won't stop breathing. There's also some gloves and a airway tube that you can use if you want to have a shield  to give direct artificial respiration. There are strips that test for the presence of fentanyl, which is much more powerful than heroin and can be mixed into heroin sold on the street,  but they weren't available at the pharmacy I was at. The sprays would have no effect on someone who hasn't used opiates, so it is safe to use even if there is doubt about what they've taken.

You call 911 if you find someone overdosed and use the kit - the nalaxone only cancels out the drugs for a short while so they need medical attention. In Canada, you and the victim are protected from being charged for possession of drugs or parole violation under the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act .

It's important to tell people who are or have been abusing opioids that you want to help that they can call you if they start using again  and want someone to check on them. It's better to be disappointed in  someone than to be mourning them.

Inside kit - two sprays that go in victim's nose.

Outside of kit