Logo: Tacoma Needle Exchange

Naloxone (Narcan®) nasal spray should be given to anyone showing signs of opioid poisoning:

  • Gurgling, gasping, snorting
  • Blue lips or fingertips
  • Won't wake up
  • Pale, gray skin
  • Slow or no breathing
Box of naloxone nasal spray

The Good Samaritan Law protects you and the victim from drug possession charges.

Naloxone Facts

Naloxone PSA

136 people die from opioid overdoses every day. With fentanyl being slipped into MDMA, cocaine, meth, and others, users may not know they’ve taken opioids until it’s too late. But naloxone (also known as Narcan) is an opioid reversal tool that can be used by anyone to give life-saving medicine right at the scene.

Training Videos

Opioid Reversal Kits

Our wall-mounted kits include Naloxone (Narcan) nasal spray, a CPR mask, and step-by-step instructions in English and Spanish.

How to Use Naloxone (PDF)CĂłmo usar Naloxone (PDF)
Opioid Reversal Kit

Request a Kit

Complete this form to request an Opioid Reversal Kit for your business or organization.

Request Opioid Reversal Kit (Naloxone/Narcan)

Naloxone in Tacoma

Icon: Distribution Box
3 Distribution Box
Icon: Vending Machine
3 Narcan Vending Machines
Icon: Reversal Kit
22 Opioid Reversal Kits
Icon: Reversal KitTNE Van
S 37th St, Tacoma
Icon: Reversal KitTacoma Needle Exchange
3716 Pacific Ave F, Tacoma
Icon: Distribution BoxEatonville Pierce County Library
205 Center St W, Eatonville
Icon: Distribution BoxKey Center Pierce County Library
8905 Key Peninsula Hwy NW, Key Center
Icon: Distribution BoxParkland/Spanaway Pierce County Library
13718 Pacific Ave S, Tacoma
Icon: Vending MachineFirst United Methodist Church of Tacoma
621 Tacoma Ave S, Tacoma
Icon: Vending MachineMoore Tacoma Public Library
215 S. 56th St, Tacoma
Icon: Vending MachineRecovery Cafe
110 Train St SE, Orting
Icon: Reversal KitBrotherhood Rise Center
2136 M.L.K. Jr Way, Tacoma
Icon: Reversal KitCoffee Oasis Youth Shelter
1424 Tacoma Ave S, Tacoma
Icon: Reversal KitFern Hill Library
765 S 84th St, Tacoma
Icon: Reversal KitFood Backpacks 4 Kids
9127 154th Ave court NW, Lakebay
Icon: Reversal KitGHP Fish Food Bank & Community Services
4303 Burnham Dr, Gig Harbor
Icon: Reversal KitKey Peninsula Civic Center
17010 S Vaughn Rd NW, Vaughn
Icon: Reversal KitKey Peninsula Community Services - Food Bank / Senior Center
17015 9th St Ct NW, Lakebay
Icon: Reversal KitKobetich Library
212 Browns Point Blvd NE, Tacoma
Icon: Reversal KitMain Library
1102 Tacoma Ave S, Tacoma
Icon: Reversal KitMoore Library
215 S 56th St, Tacoma
Icon: Reversal KitMottet Library
3523 E G St, Tacoma
Icon: Reversal KitNativity House Homeless Shelter
702 S 14th St, Tacoma
Icon: Reversal KitPublic Defenders for The City of Lakewood
1117 Tacoma Ave S, Tacoma
Icon: Reversal KitSalvation Army Food Bank & Shelter
1501 6th Ave, Tacoma
Icon: Reversal KitShiloh Baptist Church Men's Shelter
1211 S I St, Tacoma
Icon: Reversal KitSouth Tacoma Library
3411 S 56th St, Tacoma
Icon: Reversal KitSwasey Library
7001 6th Ave, Tacoma
Icon: Reversal KitTacoma Community House
1314 S L St, Tacoma
Icon: Reversal KitTacoma Recovery Center
1321 M.L.K. Jr Way, Tacoma
Icon: Reversal KitTacoma Stability Site
1423 Puyallup Ave, Tacoma
Icon: Reversal KitVeterans Security Operations Office
702 S Hill Park Dr, Puyallup
Icon: Reversal KitWheelock Library
3722 N 26th St, Tacoma

Training Videos

Camille Hoorn discusses ways to prevent an overdose, how to use Narcan when someone is experiencing an overdose, and how to test for fentanyl.

Step-by-step Instructions

1: Look for the signs

Opioid overdose is common among those who use heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone, methadone, fentanyl, and morphine.
If an overdose is suspected, grind knuckles into their sternum (breastbone).

2: Call 911

Just say, “someone is unresponsive and not breathing.”
Be sure to give a specific address and description of your location.

3: Give naloxone

Naloxone is appropriate for ALL opioid overdoses, including fentanyl.

  • Lay the person on their back.
  • Hold naloxone spray with your thumb on the red plunger.
  • Insert the nozzle in one nostril.
  • Press the plunger firmly to give the person a dose.
  • If they do not respond within 2-3 minutes, give a second dose.
  • With fentanyl overdoses, multiple doses may be required.
  • The goal of naloxone is to restore breathing, not complete arousal.

4: Give Rescue Breathing

Continue to provide resuscitation while naloxone takes effect.

Rescue Breathing

  • Clear their mouth and throat of obstructions.
  • Tilt their head back and pinch their nose closed.
  • Place a CPR mask over their mouth and nose.
  • Blow slowly into the CPR mask valve.
  • Watch for the person’s chest (not the stomach) to rise.
  • Remove your mouth, allowing them to exhale.
  • Repeat one breath every 5 seconds.

5: Monitor

Most people return to spontaneous breathing in 2-3 minutes.

  • Naloxone effects may be short, and overdose symptoms may return.
  • Get them to an emergency department as quickly as possible.
  • If naloxone doesn’t work, they most likely are not overdosing on an opioid.

Naloxone Facts

How do I arouse an unconscious person?+
DON’T slap the person. If you cannot wake the person by shouting, rubbing your knuckles on the sternum, or light pinching, the person may be unconscious.
Should I put them in a cold shower?+
DON’T put the person into a cold bath or shower. This increases the risk of falling, drowning, or shock.
Should I make them vomit?+
DON’T try to make the person vomit drugs. Choking or inhaling vomit can cause a fatal injury.
How many different forms of naloxone are available?+

If by “form” you mean “form of administration” there are two “forms,” intramuscular and intranasal. Intramuscular (IM) is injected via syringe into a large muscle, e.g.,  the butt, thigh, or arm. Intranasal is sprayed up the nose. Both methods of administration are equally effective. 

  • Injectable brands of naloxone are offered by several different companies. Typically, the proper dose must be drawn up from a vial. Usually, it is injected with a needle into muscle, although it also may be administered into a vein or under the skin. 

  • Prepackaged Nasal Spray (generic naloxone, Narcan®, Kloxxado®) comes in a prefilled, needle-free device that requires no assembly and is sprayed into one nostril while the person lays on their back. This device can also be easier for people without formal training to administer. 

  • The FDA recently approved ZimhiTM, a single-dose, prefilled syringe that can be injected into the muscle (IM) or under the skin i.e., subcutaneously.  

  • For more information about naloxone please see: https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/naloxone.

Tacoma Needle Exchange carries both intramuscular (IM) and Nasal Spray (Intranasal) forms of naloxone. We encourage people to carry whichever “form” of naloxone (IM or intranasal) they are comfortable administering.

 

 

 

Can someone overdosing use naloxone on themselves?+

Short answer: No. According to the CDC, “you can’t use naloxone on yourself”. This is why, if you use opioids, it is critical that the people around you know that you have naloxone and they know how to administer it properly. At Tacoma Needle Exchange we tell people you don’t carry naloxone for yourself, but for your loved ones and your community.

Will naloxone work on all drugs?+

Naloxone only works on opioids e.g., heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, and morphine. It has no effect on non-opioids such as methamphetamine, cocaine, benzodiazepines, etc.

However, if you witness someone experiencing overdose-like symptoms i.e., extremely pale face and/or feel clammy to the touch, limpness, fingernails or lips develop or have a purple or blue color, vomiting or making gurgling noises, they cannot be awakened, are unable to speak, or their breathing or heartbeat slows or stops, you should assume they are experiencing an overdose and administer naloxone and call 911.

I do not use drugs. Should I carry naloxone?+

Yes. Recognizing the signs of an opioid overdose and knowing how ro properly administer naloxone is not only something people-who-use-drugs should do. Naloxone can/should be carried by anyone that is capable of being trained and comfortable administering it. By getting trained to recognize and properly respond to the signs of an opioid overdose you could save a life.

The Washington State Project to Prevent Prescription Drug/Opioid Overdose (WA-PDO), a five-year project supported by the WA State Health Care Authority/Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery with funds from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, documented 9,526 opioid overdose reversals between Sept. 1, 2016 – August 31, 2021.  9,240 (97%) of these overdoses were reversed by lay-responders, i.e., regular people not first responders i.e., Police, Paramedics, EMTs, etc. Anyone with the proper training and naloxone can save a life. 

Can I overdose from touching fentanyl?+
Can I inject naloxone directly into the heart?+

Hell no! Don’t do that! While the heart is a muscle, IM naloxone should only be injected into the buttocks, thigh, upper arm, i.e., a large muscle that is not the heart.