Save a Life – Overdose and Naloxone Toolkit

Who is at Risk?

  • Anyone of any age who uses opioid medications to manage pain, particularly those taking higher doses.
  • Anyone who takes opioids with multiple prescriptions or other sedating substances, including alcohol, anti-anxiety, sleeping aids or muscle relaxants.
  • Household members of people who are in possession of opioids, including prescription opioids.
  • Anyone who uses heroin or injects pain medications.
  • People with reduced tolerance following detox or release from incarceration.
    Someone who has had a previous non-fatal overdose.
    Opioid doses greater than 90 mg of morphine per day or 60 mg of oxycodone per day.
    Obtaining overlapping prescriptions from multiple providers and pharmacies.

Prevention

  • Use heroin or other opioids safely to avoid an overdose event in the first place – once an overdose has occurred, it’s a medical emergency.
  • Use prescription opioids as prescribed, do not share.
  • Use one drug at a time – if using multiple drugs, use less of everything.
  • Have a rescue buddy that knows where naloxone is and how to use it.
  • Don’t use drugs alone.

Anyone can request naloxone from a local pharmacy without a prescription.

In addition to pharmacies, naloxone is available through many county public health offices and private doctors offices, as well as harm reduction programs and substance abuse treatment offices.

In 2019, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law a bill passed by the New Mexico legislature that would require opioid prescriptions for pain relief of five days or more to come with a second prescription of naloxone that can reverse possible overdose.

Carry Naloxone

Finding Naloxone in New Mexico:

  • Statewide pharmacies: Prescriptions are 100% covered for Medicaid clients; co-pays may exist for those with private insurance
  • Doctors’ Offices: Citizens should ask their doctor for a prescription or FREE KIT
  • County Public Health Offices: Citizens should call to see if they carry naloxone and the hours of operation.
  • Harm reduction programs
  • Substance abuse treatment offices 
  • Prescription Drug Overdose (PDO) County Coordinators: Citizens in these counties can inquire about access naloxone through the following:

How can I get naloxone?

There are several ways you can get naloxone.

How can I get a naloxone refill or what should I do if my naloxone has expired?

Ask your pharmacist for a refill. For expired naloxone, call a Prescription Drug Overdose (PDO) County Coordinator:

Recognize

Overdose Signs

  • Person won’t wake up even if you shake them or rub their breast bone.
  • Breathing is slow, shallow or even stops. Gurgling or snoring noises.
  • Lips and fingernails turn blue or gray.
  • An exhaled breath with a very distinct, labored sound coming from the throat (death rattle) is a telltale sign a person is in a critical emergency medical state.

Overmedication signs, which may progress to overdose

  • Unusual sleepiness or drowsiness
  • Mental confusion, slurred speech, intoxicated behavior
  • Slow or shallow breathing
  • Pinpoint pupils
  • Slow heartbeat
  • Difficulty waking the person from sleep

Respond to an Overdose

Prevent, Recognize, and Respond to an Opioid Overdose.

Call 911
Rescue Breathing
Give Naloxone

Respond

Step 1: Try to wake the person-say their name and rub hard on their breastbone if there’s not a response.

Step 2: Look, listen and feel for breathing (clear mouth out if necessary).

Step 3: Give two breaths, one right after the other.

Step 4: Give Naloxone (Narcan).

Step 5: Continue rescue breathing, 1 breath for every 5 seconds. Continue for 3 minutes, if no response, give second dose of Naloxone.

How to Give Naloxone (Narcan)

Step 1: Remove Naloxone Nasal Spray from box . Peel back the tab to open the spray. 

Step 2: Hold the nasal spray with your thumb on the bottom of the plunger and you first and middle fingers on either side of the nozzle. 

Step 3: With the person on their back, tilt their head back and provide support under the neck with your hand. Gently insert the tip of the nozzle into one nostril until your fingers reach the bottom of the nose.

Step 4: Press the plunger firmly to give the dose of Naloxone nasal spray. Remove the nozzle from the nostril.

After the person wakes up

  • If possible, stay with the person until medical help arrive. They can overdose again even after they wake up—the naloxone will start to wear off in 30-90m minutes.  
  • Don’t let the person use more drugs.
  • Place them in the recovery position. 

People recently released from incarceration are at a significantly higher risk for an opioid overdose.

Prescription or illicit opioid death risk is catastrophically high. For people using heroin, the risk within the first two weeks of release is 74 times higher than the general public; and for prescription opioids, it is 40 times higher.

This video is aimed at teaching adults how to apply Narcan on those who have overdosed. In 26-minutes, viewers will learn to recognize the symptoms of overdose and the steps in saving a life.
This video aimed at teaching young people how to use Narcan. This 26-minute video tells powerful stories about those who have beat addition after leaving detention or prison.