Naloxone (also known as Narcan®) is a medication that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid poisoning. An opioid poisoning (overdose) happens when someone has taken more opioids than their body can handle. It is a medical emergency because it can stop a person from breathing.
Learn how to administer Naloxone
The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act (Government of Canada) provides some legal protection to people who call for emergency help during an opioid poisoning.
Where to get Naloxone
For a free naloxone kit, visit a Public Health Sudbury & Districts location, Réseau Access Network, or select pharmacies. The Ministry of Health also provides a map of locations (Government of Ontario) where you can access free naloxone kits.
Ontario Naloxone Program and Ontario Naloxone Program for Pharmacies
Learn how your organization or pharmacy can take part in distributing (Government of Ontario).
Naloxone for workplaces
Find out if your business needs a naloxone kit (Government of Ontario).
Naloxone training
Resources
- Drug surveillance (Public Health Sudbury & Districts)
- Community programs, support & services (Public Health Sudbury & Districts)
- The Point: harm reduction supplies and services (Public Health Sudbury & Districts)
- EENet | carrynaloxONe: Training Materials (CAMH)
- Harm Reduction Fundamentals: A toolkit for service providers (CATIE)
- Ontario Harm Reduction Network (CATIE)
- Overcoming Stigma Through Language (Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction)
- Indigenizing Harm Reduction (Native Youth Sexual Health Network)
- National Overdose Response Service (NORS)
- Opioid Interactive Tool (Public Health Ontario)
- Toronto’s drug checking service (Centre for Urban Health Solutions and St. Michael’s Unity Toronto)