Prevent an Opioid Overdose
Use naloxone to reverse a possible opioid overdose.
Effective January 1, 2023, Senate Bill No. 367 requires UCSF SMHW to provide opioid overdose education and distribute Naloxone.
In distributing Naloxone, our goal is to facilitate access to naloxone, a life-saving medication used to reverse an overdose from opioids, including heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioid medications, and to reduce harm to the UCSF community.
Using a standing order from the California Department of Public Health, SMHW will:
Use naloxone to reverse a possible opioid overdose.
Naloxone is a medication that works almost immediately to reverse opiate overdose. It has few known adverse effects, no potential for abuse, and can be rapidly administered through intramuscular injection or nasal spray. While most professional first responders and emergency departments, including UCPD, are equipped with naloxone, they may not arrive in time to revive overdose victims. Educated and equipped bystanders can effectively take steps to reverse an opioid overdose.
Given the success of naloxone bystander programs, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have recommended expanding the availability of naloxone to laypeople.
The amount of time it takes for first responders to arrive on the scene can mean a person's life in the case of an opioid overdose. Carrying naloxone allows civilians to become responsible bystanders and potentially save a life in the event of encountering an opioid overdose.
When administered during an overdose, naloxone blocks the effect of opioids on the brain and restores breathing within two to eight minutes to prevent death.
Signs of possible opioid overdose:
What to do:
Naloxone often works immediately. But depending on the individual's size and use history, they may need more than 1 or 2 applications. If the person does not recover quickly you may need to perform other life-saving strategies such as Hands-Only CPR and rescue breathing. Naloxone’s effect lasts for about 30 to 90 minutes in the body. If the naloxone wears off before the effects of the opioids wear off, the person might go into an overdose again. For this reason, it is always very important to call emergency medical assistance!
After you administer naloxone, do not leave the individual unattended until you can transfer their care to a medical professional.
Please call our clinic at 415-476-1281 or email us at [email protected].
You may also wish to watch the California Department of Public Health’s training video on administering naloxone.
California has a 911 Good Samaritan Law (CA Civil Code Section 1714.22) protects you from arrest, charge, and prosecution when you call 911 at the scene of a suspected drug overdose. Nobody at the scene should be charged for personal amounts of drugs or paraphernalia. This law does not protect you if:
UCSF Student Mental Health and Wellbeing
Parnassus
500 Parnassus Ave.,
level P8, room 005
San Francisco, CA 94143
Telephone: (415) 476-1281
email: [email protected]
Mission Bay
1675 Owens St.,
Rutter Center, 3rd Floor, room 330
San Francisco, CA 94158
Telephone: (415) 476-1281
email: [email protected]
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