#narcan training

**please repost and add resources pertinent to your area

If you're concerned about encountering an overdose, there are many programs that offer free narcan administration training to laypeople, as well as access to naloxone at no cost to you.

Harm reduction does not enable addiction; it gives people in danger a chance to live and fight another day. Link under cut

These tweets inspired me to get my Naloxone (aka Narcan) training certificate today! One of my childhood friends passed away from an overdose a few years ago, and she deserved love, life, and medical care, just like Kevin Nye said.

before I forget everything from training... Narcan is the brand, naloxone is the drug which is administered to revive users who overdose on opioids (depressors including meth, fentanyl--typically administered in lollipop form in the military when someone's undergone intense trauma such as limb loss--heroin, etc. NOT Xanax). indicators of opioid overdose are: drooping of head and body (because depressors slow down your nervous system which is why it feels so good) and blueness of nails and lips (from lack of oxygen). although it may be hard to remember in a time of emergency, the Narcan-provider/responder should (after determining whether the victim is breathing) first call 911, check to make sure there's nothing in the victim's mouth, briefly administer CPR, then shoot Naloxone up the nose. if it is not an opioid overdose, the Naloxone will not do anything. if it is, the Naloxone will cause the opioid to release from the receptors and force the body back into relatively normal functioning, aka breathing. forewarning: the victim may wake up extremely angry and agitated, however they will be weak from lack of oxygen so do not be too afraid. Naloxone can be administered as many times as needed and the effects of each vial will typically last 60-90 minutes. if the victim has a lot of opioids in his or her system, he or she may overdose again, at which point the responder should also re-administer Narcan. I respect and am inspired by the philosophy of Housing Works, which does not stigmatize drug addiction as so many do and instead propagates harm reduction, recognizing that everyone is entitled to rehabilitation and a second chance and the benefit of the doubt, as many drug overdoses are accidental. I am also saddened by the woman with the red pixie cut and thick black lashes and her own (more expensive) Naloxone kit, which she advocated as "easier to use" in the event that her daughter ever needed it.