Dose of Reality: Safer Use/Harm Reduction
Opioids can harm you. That's why we are sharing safer use tips to reduce the harms you or someone you love may experience when using opioids. While these tips won’t eliminate all dangers of opioids, they will lower your chances of an overdose, infection, or other bad outcome. The purpose of these tips is to keep people who use opioids alive and well.
Tips to protect yourself
- Come up with an overdose plan. Talk to family members and friends about what they can do to help you in case of an overdose.
- Naloxone saves lives. Naloxone is the overdose reversal drug. Carry it with you. Let others know you have it. A trusted family member or friend can administer naloxone to save your life. It can take more than one dose of naloxone to reverse an overdose.
- It’s dangerous to take opioids when you are alone. If a trusted family member or friend is around and alert, they can look for the signs of an overdose and administer naloxone should an overdose occur. If a trusted family member or friend is not available, call Never Use Alone.
- Mixing drugs is risky. Combining opioids with other drugs, including alcohol, puts you at greater risk for an overdose.
- Consider your physical health. People living with asthma or other breathing problems, kidney issues, liver issues, and HIV are at high risk for an overdose.
More tips for people who are prescribed opioids
- Limit your use of the medicine. Unlike antibiotics where taking the entire course of medication is necessary, you should stop taking opioids as soon as your pain subsides. Take only the dose prescribed on the schedule prescribed.
- Don't share your medicine. Opioids were prescribed to you based on your unique needs. A recommended dose for one person could be harmful to another person.
- Safely store your medicine. Leaving opioids on counters or in easily accessible medicine cabinets can lead others to take your opioids without your knowledge. Store your opioids in a safe place out of reach of children and pets. The best spot is a locked box or cabinet.
- Safely dispose of leftover medicine. There is no need to hang onto opioids you did not take. If your pain returns, that's because your body likely has not fully healed and you may need other help to fully recover. Take leftover opioids to a drug drop box.
More tips for people who use other opioids
- Fentanyl test strips are legal. Fentanyl test strips can be used to check for the presence of fentanyl in drugs. They are available for free at many locations in Wisconsin. Learn more about fentanyl test strips.
- Injecting opioids is dangerous. Injecting opioids can increase the risk of overdose and infection. Reusing needles and supplies or sharing them with others increases the chance of a negative outcome, such as contracting hepatitis C or HIV. Not sanitizing the injection site beforehand can lead to infection. Syringe services programs provide access to sterile syringes and supplies, accept used syringes and supplies for safe disposal, and provide testing and treatment for infectious diseases. Find a syringe services program near you.
- Opioids can act fast on your brain and body. This can put you at greater risk of an overdose. People who don’t regularly consume opioids can be at greater risk of an overdose. Those who use opioids from an unknown source are also at greater risk of an overdose if they consume too much.
- Your health matters. Overall health impacts the risk of an overdose. Dehydration, lack of sleep, and hunger can increase the likelihood of an overdose.
Save a life with naloxone
You can reverse an opioid overdose if you know what to do and you act in time. Whether you use opioids, love someone who does, or just care about the people in your community, it’s important to be prepared if you encounter someone who is experiencing an opioid overdose.
Carrying naloxone can save lives. This is the drug that blocks the harmful effects of opioids on the brain. It is specific to opioids. If opioids are not involved with the overdose, it will not cause any harm.
Where can you get naloxone
Naloxone is widely available in Wisconsin. It is available as a nasal spray or an injection.
- It is available at no cost through vending machines and boxes placed in many public locations.
- It is available at no cost through dozens of agencies participating in the Naloxone Direct Program.
- The nasal spray can be purchased over-the-counter at many stores with pharmacies, including CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Target, Metro Market, and Pick 'n Save.
- It can be purchased without a prescription through pharmacists at many pharmacies.
Use the map below to find out where you can get naloxone or view a spreadsheet of all the locations (Excel).
Wisconsin residents can receive free naloxone by mail through NEXT Distro. Submit a request for naloxone to be shipped to you at no cost.
Have a pickup location to add to this map? Email dhsdcts@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
How to give someone naloxone
Nasal naloxone
Nasal naloxone is simple to use. Each device contains one dose.
- Call 911 and follow the operator's instructions.
- Place the tip of the nozzle in either nostril until your fingers touch the nose.
- Press the plunger firmly to release the dose.
- Give rescue breaths if needed.
Nasal naloxone usually starts working within a few minutes and lasts from 30 to 90 minutes. More than one dose is sometimes needed. If there is no response after two to three minutes, give a second dose in the other nostril.
Learn more about nasal naloxone
Signs of an Overdose/How to Administer Nasal Naloxone, P-03094 (wallet card)
This wallet card provides an overview of the signs of an opioid overdose and how to administer nasal naloxone. It is available in English, Hmong, and Spanish.
Watch the following video to learn how to recognize an opioid overdose and how to use NARCAN® (a common brand of nasal naloxone) to save a life.
Injection naloxone
Injection naloxone is easy to use.
- Call 911 and follow the operator's instructions.
- Pop off the flip top from the naloxone vial.
- Insert the needle into the vial and draw up 1cc into the syringe.
- Inject the needle straight into muscle (through clothes, if necessary) on the shoulder, thigh, or upper outer part of the buttocks, and then push in plunger.
Injection naloxone usually starts working within a few minutes and lasts from 30 to 90 minutes. More than one dose of injection naloxone is sometimes needed. If there is no response after two to three minutes, give a second dose of injection naloxone.
Talk about naloxone
If you have concerns about a loved one taking a prescription opioid or using drugs commonly mixed with fentanyl, like heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine, here are some tips on having a conversation about naloxone.
- Ask what they know about naloxone. Simply starting the conversation shows that you care and can be a source of support.
- Make it clear that their safety is your main priority. Naloxone can save their life—or a loved one’s—by quickly and safely reversing an opioid overdose.
- Share that naloxone is for anyone who uses opioids and other substances that are commonly mixed with fentanyl or other synthetic opioids. Naloxone is effective for any opioid overdose, including prescription pain reliever, heroin, and fentanyl overdoses.
- Meet them where they’re at. They may be struggling, so offer your support by listening and giving them your undivided attention. Let them know they’re important to you. That’s why preparing for an emergency by carrying naloxone is so important.
- Know the real facts about naloxone and help call out misinformation. They should know that carrying naloxone won’t get them in trouble.
- Emphasize that carrying naloxone is normal and responsible. Point out that many doctors and pharmacists recommend providing naloxone with every opioid prescription. This can help reduce a potential fear of judgment.
- Offer to help them get naloxone. Naloxone can be purchased without a prescription at a pharmacy and at no cost from many organizations throughout the state. Find out where you can get naloxone above.
- Remind them that should tell others around them that they have naloxone and where to find it when using substances. After all, naloxone cannot be self-administered.
- Encourage them to keep multiple doses of naloxone on hand. Sometimes it takes more than one dose to reverse an overdose.
Promote the importance of carrying naloxone: Visit the Dose of Reality: Partner Resources section for flyers, posters, and social media posts, as well as audio and video advertisements.
Safe disposal saves lives
Safely disposing of unused and unwanted medications and used medical supplies helps protect the people around you and your environment. There are many safe disposal options available to everyone throughout Wisconsin.