Naloxone is a widely available medication that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. It has been a vital tool in combatting the toxic drug crisis since B.C. launched the Take Home Naloxone program in 2012.
Anyone using unregulated drugs is at risk of a toxic drug poisoning. If there is a chance you may witness or experience a toxic drug poisoning, you can get a free naloxone kit to carry with you. Many pharmacies provide them, as do health centres and community agencies. You do not need a prescription, and you do not need to provide your name.
Naloxone is safe to use on people of all ages.
“Naloxone is the number one intervention we have that can avert a death and remains a vitally important part of the toxic drug response efforts,” says Jessica Bridgeman, manager, Harm Reduction. “It’s simple, easy to use, and so important to help keep our community members, clients, friends and family safe.”
How naloxone works
Naloxone can be injected or inhaled, and usually takes effect in three to five minutes. If the first dose doesn’t restore normal breathing, an additional dose may be needed.
Always call 911 for help even if the person starts breathing again, as an overdose is an emergency.
Know the signs of a toxic drug poisoning/overdose. If you suspect an overdose, follow the SAVE ME steps. Try to wake the person. If you can’t wake the person, and if they are not breathing normally (one breath every five seconds), call 911 right away and get ready to use naloxone.
The effects of a dose of naloxone typically last between 30 and 120 minutes. Stay with the person and monitor their breathing until medical help has arrived.
Naloxone cannot reverse the effects of an overdose from non-opioid drugs like benzodiazepines or/and tranquillizers. But it can be hard to know what someone has taken, especially since street drugs are often cut with other substances.
If you’re not sure what someone has taken, you can still use naloxone. It will not harm them. A person may not become conscious after naloxone is administered, especially when a benzodiazepine and/or tranquillizer is also present. In these cases, focus on breathing as the most important part of the response. And always call 911.
For the staff at a roadside lodge on an isolated stretch of Highway 5 in B.C.’s Northern Interior, having a naloxone kit on hand proved to be a lifesaving decision.
In May 2025, a woman travelling the remote highway rushed into the business seeking a naloxone kit for her partner who was experiencing an overdose.
"My colleague had picked up a naloxone kit at the drug store just by fluke,” the manager recounts, who withheld their name for privacy reasons. “It had sat in our cupboard for about six months. Just a few days before we needed to use it, we were like ‘Where’s the naloxone?’ and we put it at the front of the cabinet.”
They said the woman ran in, asked if they had naloxone and quickly administered it to her friend. After her partner recovered, the two were on their way.
“It was a little bit scary to be honest with you, but the outcome turned out well. It’s definitely something we will keep in our cabinet from now on,” the manager says.
“I think we possibly saved a life.”
Learn more about overdose and naloxone
Get help today
Call 310-MHSU (6478) to reach your local Mental Health and Substance Use Centre for support in your community.
If you’re experiencing feelings of hopelessness or thoughts of self-harm, you can call one of these numbers. These services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays:
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