Protect yourself and your loved ones.

Know your options when it comes to

opioid safety.

Wisconsin Pharmacy Examining Board

PATIENT RESOURCE

GUIDE

SAFE DISPOSAL OF MEDICATIONS

AND SHARPSWant more information on: • Drug takeback events?• Safe disposal of injectables,

needles and syringes?Go to: http://doseofrealitywi.gov/

Contact your local law enforcement agency for permanent

drop box locations near you.

AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin supplies naloxone for free.Call 1-800-359-9272 and

ask for the prevention department.

NALOXONE NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE?

TOO EXPENSIVE?

Wisconsin Department of Health Services P-01575 (08/2016)

TREATMENT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE!

For additional resources, visit:https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/

opioids/treatment.htm

Or call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services hotline at:

1-800-662-HELP (4357)

KNOW WHERE TO GO.

An opioid overdose can take minutes or even hours to occur.

A person who is having an overdose may experience slow breathing (less than one breath every five seconds), shallow breathing or no breathing.

Recognizing an overdoseOPIOID SAFETY AND

OVERDOSE PREVENTION

For patient education and additional materials, visit: • www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/opioids or• www.prescribetoprevent.org

Other symptoms include:• Vomiting• Blue or pale lips, skin or fingernails• Snoring or gurgling noises while

asleep or nodding out• No response when you rub your knuckles

in the middle of their chest (see right)• Pale or clammy face

Call 9-1-1 immediately if you know or suspect someone

is experiencing an overdose.

PLAY IT SAFE!

Talk to your family or friends

about a care plan in case of

an overdose.

If you seek medical attention for someone who has overdosed,

Wisconsin Law protects you from arrest for possessing drugs or

drug paraphernalia.

Wisconsin Department of Health Services P-01571 (08/2016)

A GUIDE FOR PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS:What you need to know about

risks, prevention and more

Wisconsin Pharmacy Examining Board

Naloxone (Narcan®) is: a medication that can reverse an overdose caused by an opioid drug.

What is naloxone?TOLERANCE: Tolerance can decrease rapidly when someone takes a break from using an opioid. Restarting at the same dose puts you at risk for an overdose.

PHYSICAL HEALTH: Opioids can impair breathing. If you have asthma or other breathing problems, you are at high risk for overdose. Those with liver and/or kidney problems or who are HIV positive are also at increased risk.

PREVIOUS OVERDOSE: A person who has had a nonfatal overdose in the past has an increased risk of a fatal overdose in the future.

MIXING DRUGS: Many overdoses occur when opioids are mixed with alcohol, benzos (sedatives/anti-anxiety medicine) or other substances.

• Only take medication prescribed to you, and take it as directed.

• Don’t mix opioids with other drugs or alcohol.

• Dispose of any unused medication at a medication drop box or police station.

• Store your medication in a safe and secure place, (e.g., lock box) to prevent access by children or others in your home.

• Not taking opioids for a while changes tolerance levels, which means if you restart, you need to start at a lower dose.

• Avoid taking opioids alone. Have someone nearby to help in case of an emergency.

Risk factors for overdose

What naloxone isn’t: • It does not reverse drug overdoses that are caused by non-opioid drugs.• It will not cause harm if given to someone who is not experiencing an opioid overdose.• It cannot be abused and is not addictive.

Storage: Naloxone needs to be stored away from extreme heat or cold and kept away from direct sunlight.

For any signs of overdose,

use naloxone.

“A growing body of evidence suggests that provision of naloxone does not encourage opiate users to increase their drug consumption, nor does it increase the likelihood that they will harm themselves or those around them.”

- National Institutes of Health Report

How to prevent overdose

Expiration Date: Check expiration date on the box of naloxone on a regular basis (once per month) and return for a refill if it’s expired.

Opioids include: • Prescription pain medication, such as: - morphine - Percocet® - codeine - OxyContin® - Vicodin®• Medicines used for opioid treatment, such as methadone, Suboxone® and Vivitrol®• Heroin and fentanyl

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There are four ways to give naloxone. Follow instructions for the type that you have.

-- To see video instructions on how to administer the four kinds of naloxone, visit www.prescribetoprevent.org. --

3. Press the plunger firmly to release the dose into either nostril.

4. Provide a second dose in the other nostril if there is no responseafter 2-3 minutes.

1. Peel back the package to remove the device.

2. Place the tip of the nozzle in a nostril until your fingers touch the bottom of the nose.

Nasal spray (ready to use)

1 Remove the two colored caps from the delivery syringe.

2 Screw the white atomizer cone onto the top of the delivery syringe.

3 Remove the cap off the capsule of naloxone.

4 Gently screw the capsule of naloxone into the barrel of syringe.

5 Insert white cone into nostril; give a short, strong push on the end of capsule to spray naloxone into nose: One half (1 mL) of the capsule in each nostril.

6 If there is no reaction in 2-3 minutes, give a second dose.

Nasal spray (assembly required)

1. Pull auto-injector from outer case.

2. Pull off red safety guard.

3. Place the black end of the auto-injector against the outerthigh—through clothing if needed—press firmly and hold inplace for 5 seconds.

4. Repeat the injection if there is no response after 2-3 minutes.

Auto-injector (EVZIO™)

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1 Put on gloves, if available. Remove cap from naloxone vial and uncover the needle.

2 Insert needle through rubber plug with vial upside down.Pull back on plunger and draw up 1 mL of naloxone.

3 Insert the needle into the muscle of the bare upper arm or thigh.

4 Repeat the injection if there is no response after 2-3 minutes.

Push on the plunger to inject the naloxone.

Injectable naloxone

Wisconsin Department of Health Services P-01576 (08/2016)

HOW TO GIVE NALOXONE

RESPONDING TO AN OVERDOSE-- Ask your pharmacist about how to safely dispose of medications and sharps. --

Know how to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.

STAY UNTIL HELP ARRIVESStay with the overdose victim until emergency responders arrive.

6

IDENTIFY OVERDOSETry to wake the overdose victim by yelling their name or rubbing your knuckles in the middle of their chest.

1

Put the victim on their side with the top leg and arm crossed over the body (see below).

OPEN AIRWAY AND GIVE RESCUE BREATHSIf the overdose victim is not breathing, open the airway. Remove any object from the victim’s mouth.If breathing has stopped or slowed, start rescue breath-ing: tilt head back, lift chin, pinch nose with other hand, give one breath every five seconds. Continue this for 30 seconds. If the overdose victim is still not breathing on own, give naloxone.

3

RECOVERY POSITIONOnce the overdose victim is breathing again, put the person on their side with the top leg and arm crossed over the body to prevent choking (see below).

5CALL 9-1-1Indicate if the overdose victim has stopped or slowed breathing.

2

4 GIVE NALOXONESee reverse side for how to give naloxone. After giving naloxone, continue rescue breaths. If there is still no response after 2-3 minutes, give naloxone again. More than one dose is sometimes needed.

Wisconsin Pharmacy Examining Board