Carry a Naloxone Kit
The person you save might not be who you expect
We should all carry a naloxone kit. You never know when you could save a life. Or whose life hangs in the balance.
Whenever I raise this topic with friends, I am met with mixed responses. Some people are terrified of needles. Others think they would never choose to be physically close to the kind of person who might need them to do this for them.
If you aren’t aware, naloxone is used to reverse the impact of an opioid overdose. If they receive it early on, the person’s chances of survival improve dramatically. You haven’t made them into an addict, and you won’t kill them. It is safe to use even if they have not used opioids.
You’ve probably seen an addict on the streets
If you live in North America, you have probably seen an addict somewhere on the streets. You may or may not know if you have. The ones who look homeless, are gaunt, have sores or obvious signs of injection might stand out to you. Some may be sitting with their cardboard sign asking for money. And usually you don’t give your spare change to them because you imagine it will go straight into their arm.
Maybe you even crossed the road to avoid them.
