After injecting naloxone, it is important to stay with the person until they become responsive. If they become responsive you should:
- Tell them what happened
- Tell them that the effects of naloxone will wear off
- Encourage them to cooperate with healthcare workers and go to the emergency department
- Strongly discourage them from using again
- Support them through withdrawal/dope sickness
- Let them know that they are legally protected through the “Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act” (see below)
The person may experience withdrawal symptoms and want to take more drugs. The person should be discouraged from using opioids for at least a few hours. While naloxone is in their system, using more opioids will not make them feel better and using more opioids will also make the overdose more likely to return.
Once the emergency response team gets there, it is important to let them know what you witnessed, such as:
- If you know, tell them what drugs the person used
- What actions have been taken so far
- How long the person was or has been unresponsive
- How much naloxone was given
In the case of an overdose, safety is a priority. When you are helping someone who is overdosing, the Canadian Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act protects you and that person from certain legal charges, such as the possession of drugs. You can find more information here: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/substance-use/problematic-prescription-drug-use/opioids/about-good-samaritan-drug-overdose-act.html