A quick guide for credentialed health workers

This guide provides instructions for delivering the take home naloxone intervention to clients.​

Last updated: 27 August 2020
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  1. Determine client eligibility. Clients at risk of overdosing on illicit or pharmaceutical opioids (those currently using, have recently used, or are at risk of returning to using opioids after taking a break), likely to witness an overdose, are aged 16+, and contraindications (hypersensitivity) and precautions (pregnant/breastfeeding) have been considered. 
  2. Introduce the Take Home Naloxone intervention to the client. Describe its purpose (‘to help people respond to and prevent deaths from overdose’), likely duration of intervention (10-20 minutes), and involves the supply of take home naloxone at no cost.
  3. Assess and address client’s understanding of overdose: either unstructured (clinical assessment) or use the Take Home Naloxone Client Questionnaire and provide feedback using the Consumer Information Sheet.
  4. Discuss with client the choice between prefilled syringe for intramuscular injection or intranasal naloxone. Demonstrate the contents and use of Prenoxad® (injected) and Nyxoid® (intranasal).
  5. Health worker and client to complete the Take Home Naloxone Checklist and Record of Supply form.
  6. Health worker to supply naloxone to client (client’s preferred formulation i.e. either nasal spray or pre-filled syringe if possible) in accordance with the Procedures, including labelling, and record in the Drug stock control sheet / imprest log book.
  7. File completed documents in client medical record (where patient medical record exists) or where no individual client medical records are maintained (e.g. NSP, outreach), file in a Take Home Naloxone intervention folder at each participating site.
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Current as at: Thursday 27 August 2020
Contact page owner: Centre for Alcohol and Other Drugs