Indiana has seen a staggering increase in the number of overdose deaths tied to heroin and other opioids since 2000. In 2022, the Indiana had the 12th highest rate of drug overdose deaths, out of all states. The state is committed to saving lives by making naloxone available to first responders, family, friends and others who are likely to be the first on the scene if someone is experiencing an overdose.
Naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan®, is a non-narcotic medication that is an antidote for opioid overdoses. If administered in a timely manner, naloxone can reverse the life-threatening respiratory failure that is usually the cause of overdose deaths. Naloxone has been proven effective in reversing overdoses caused by opioids such as heroin and fentanyl.
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You may find locations where naloxone is available at www.optIN.in.gov. No prescription is needed. A person seeking naloxone can ask the entity to use the state health commissioner’s statewide standing order.
Yes, call an ambulance immediately after you have administered the naloxone. If you know CPR, give rescue breaths and begin CPR until the person is breathing on his or her own. Put the individual into the recovery position once breathing has resumed. If there is no response to the first dose, give a second dose. Tell the people in the ambulance that you gave naloxone and at what time and show them the dose.
Naloxone has a shelf life of about two years. Make sure you check the expiration date listed on your naloxone and replace it if it has expired. If you are responding to an overdose and you notice that your naloxone has expired, you can still use it. Expired naloxone may still be effective enough to save a life and it will not hurt anyone if you use it.
Ideally, naloxone should be kept between 40° F and 80° F (5° C to 25° C) in a dark, dry place. Naloxone is sensitive to temperature, and prolonged storage at temperatures above or below those recommended by the manufacturer may decrease the effectiveness of the drug. If your naloxone is left in freezing temperatures, make sure you hold it in a warm hand to thaw it prior to using it. Naloxone stored at high temperatures may lose some of its effectiveness but can still be used in an emergency.
No. Naloxone will not affect someone who has not ingested opioids.
Individuals who are using opioids may experience withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, confusion, agitation or combativeness when given naloxone. Naloxone is not an opioid or a controlled substance and has no potential for abuse. Allergic reactions to naloxone have been reported but are extremely rare.
Governor Mike Pence signed Aaron’s Law into effect in April 2015. The law was named for Indianapolis resident Aaron Sims, who died of a heroin overdose in 2013 at the age of 20. The law was amended in 2016 to allow the Indiana Health Commissioner to sign a statewide standing order for naloxone to entities that register with the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) to dispense this life-saving drug to Hoosiers without a prescription.
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Nonprofits, pharmacies, local health departments, addiction treatment facilities, correctional facilities and other entities that sell, dispense, or distribute naloxone without examining patients, under the Statewide Naloxone Standing Order, must register with OptIN. Naloxone entities may register at www.optIN.in.gov and must complete required activities and annual reporting.
The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) is pleased to offer virtual naloxone administration trainings that are free and self-paced. These courses cover topics such as Indiana overdose statistics, stigma reduction, naloxone administration, and treatment options for substance use disorder.
IDOH is offering three online courses available on the Indiana TRAIN platform: