Take Home Naloxone Program: Information for Consumers

Opioid medicines are prescribed to help a patient manage their pain. Commonly prescribed opioids include codeine, oxycodone, morphine, tapentadol, fentanyl and buprenorphine. Heroin is also an opioid.

Taking other pain medicines or sleeping tablets, becoming confused about how and when to take pain medication (accidentally doubling up) and combining medication with alcohol increases a person’s opioid-related risk.

Opioids are the most common cause of drug-related death in Australia, however, there are simple steps which can reduce the risk for patients.

Naloxone reverses the effects of opioids if you or some else has a severe reaction. It is safe and could save a life.

• Approved providers include participating community pharmacies, hospital-based pharmacies, and approved medical practitioners in remote locations
• Authorised alternative suppliers include organisations providing alcohol and other drug treatment services, injecting centres and homelessness/outreach services, pending approval from relevant State and Territories.

Please note: as of 1 July 2022, only AASs in NSW, SA and WA can participate in the THN Program. Consultations are currently underway with other States and Territories to confirm the participation requirements for AASs in each jurisdiction. Further information will be provided on this page once it becomes available.

Naloxone can be supplied in:

• An ampoule to be administered as an injection into the outer shoulder or thigh muscle (you will need a supply of needles and syringes to allow this)
• A pre-filled syringe ready for injection into the outer shoulder or thigh muscle
• A nasal spray ready for administration

Your pharmacist will explain how to use each of the different naloxone products to allow you to feel confident in being able to administer a dose. For further information, refer to the Consumer Medicines Information for each product:

• Naloxone Juno CMI
• DBL Naloxone Hydrochloride CMI
• Prenoxad CMI
• Nyxoid CMI

The signs of an opioid overdose include:

• The person will not respond to voice or touch
• Blue or purple-tinged lips and nails
• Slow, irregular breathing
• Snoring or 'gurgling'
• Pinpoint pupils
• Being cold and clammy

When an opioid overdose is suspected:

• Call an ambulance (000)
• Position the person in the recovery position to open their airway
• Administer naloxone
• If no response after 2-3 minutes, repeat the dose until the person begins to wake up
• Continue to monitor breathing and if the patient stops breathing, start CPR 30 compressions then 2 breaths and repeat
• Do not cancel the ambulance or leave the person once they wake up
• Tell the ambulance how many doses of naloxone have been given

Further information and resources:

• Naloxone Patient Leaflet and Opioid Safety Plan
• Overdose Action Plan (Pharmacy Guild)