Close Alert Banner
Skip to Content

kfla Public Health Logo

Contact Us
NewsContact UsLogin
FR EN
  • Health Topics
    • Dental health
    • Health hazards
    • Food and healthy eating
    • Immunizations and vaccines
    • Infections and infectious diseases
    • Injury prevention and safety
    • Mental well-being
    • Parenting
    • Physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep
    • Pregnancy
    • Safe water
    • Sexual health
    • Substance use health
    • Violence
  • Organizations and Professionals
    • Business owners, operators and vendors
    • Early childhood educators
    • Elementary and secondary school educators
    • Health care providers
  • Clinics and Classes
    • COVID-19 vaccine
    • Dental hygiene clinics
    • Immunization clinics
    • Infant feeding clinics
    • Sexual health clinics
    • Mpox vaccine clinics
    • Food For You, Food For Two classes
    • Prenatal classes
  • About Us
    • Accessibility
    • Annual reports
    • Board of Health
    • Employment and volunteering
    • Policies
    • Strategic plan
  • I Want To:

Naloxone

Home...Substance use healthHarm reductionNaloxone
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Email this page Email

Two hands holding a naloxone kit

Naloxone is a fast-acting medication that can temporarily reverse an opioid poisoning caused by opioid drugs and other drugs contaminated with opioids. Naloxone is safe and easily given by a spray into the nose.

Opioids include morphine, codeine, oxycodone (e.g., Percocet), hydromorphone (e.g., Dilaudid), heroin, and fentanyl. Naloxone will not work for non-opioid drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy, gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), or alcohol. However, the illegal drug supply is unregulated and unpredictable. Many drugs in this area (including non-opioid drugs like cocaine) are being cut with powerful opioids like fentanyl. 

Anyone who takes an illegal drug is at risk of opioid poisoning. 

 Naloxone kit with instruction sheet, gloves, medicine

Who should get a naloxone kit?

It is recommended that anyone using any illegal drug or who is on long-term opioids have a naloxone kit. Friends and family members of people at risk should get kits and be trained on how to detect an opioid overdose and administer naloxone. Recognizing opioid poisoning signs, calling 911, and administering naloxone quickly can prevent injury and death.

Don’t use alone. Naloxone saves lives but someone has to be there to give it and call 911. Use with someone you trust or call the National Overdose Prevention Service (NORS) at 1-888-688-NORS(6677).

Always call 911:

  • Once the naloxone wears off, the poisoning could return.
  • The person may need more naloxone than you have.
  • The person may need followup care and support.
  • It may not be an opioid poisoning and the person may require different care.
  • The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act provides some legal protection against simple drug possession related charges for anyone involved in an opioid poisoning when 911 is called.

How do I take care of my naloxone kit?

Make sure to store naloxone at room temperature and keep it out of direct sunlight. Don’t leave it in your car or other places it may be exposed to extreme cold or heat. Exchange your kit for a new one when it gets close to the expiry date. 

Where can I get a naloxone kit?

Individuals

In Ontario, naloxone is widely available for free through the Ontario Naloxone Program and Ontario Naloxone Program for Pharmacies. Eligibility incudes: people at risk of opioid poisoning, friends and family of people at risk, and others who may be able to respond other than in the line of work. Training is available and no health card is required.

Many pharmacies in the KFL&A area offer free naloxone and training.

Free nasal spray naloxone kits are available self-serve at reception at KFL&A Public Health offices in Kingston, Cloyne and Sharbot Lake.

Eligible individuals can get free naloxone kits mailed to them after completing online training with NaloxoneCare.com

Many community organizations in the KFL&A area have enrolled as Ontario Naloxone Program sites. They can provide naloxone and training to their eligible clients. Sites include:

  • AMHS-KFLA
  • Home Base Housing (includes One Roof and Street Outreach)
  • Kingston Youth Shelter
  • Kingston Harbour Light  
  • Land O’Lakes Community Services
  • Lennox & Addington Interval House
  • Lionhearts
  • Martha’s Table
  • Napanee & Area Community Health Centre
  • Resolve Counselling
  • St. Vincent de Paul Society of Kingston
  • Street Health Centre
  • Trellis HIV & Community Care (includes Princess St. site, Integrated Care Hub and mobile unit)
  • Youth Diversion

Workplace use

KFL&A Public Health may be able to provide naloxone training for staff and volunteers but is unable to provide naloxone kits for workplace use. Businesses or other organizations may be able to access workplace kits or training through the following options:

Ontario Workplace Naloxone Program

Program of Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skill Development. For a limited time is providing free training and nasal spray naloxone to eligible workplaces.

React and Reverse - St John Ambulance

Free training and nasal spray kits available for eligible sites and communities in Canada i.e. underserved communities, shelters and support organizations . 

 

For purchase

Ask your local pharmacy or usual supplier of pharmaceutical supplies.

Contact the makers of Narcan directly. 

Free naloxone for businesses in Kingston

Naloxone may be available for free from Kingston Economic Development for local businesses for workplace use.  

For fire and rescue, police services and St. John Ambulance

Police and fire services and St John Ambulance branches in Ontario are eligible to receive naloxone to use in response to suspected opioid poisonings. In Kingston Frontenac Lennox & Addington, these agencies can register to access free nasal spray naloxone. Contact KFL&A Public Health for more information.

 Already enrolled? Contact KFL&A Public Health if you:

  • have questions relating to your naloxone order or report
  • need to provide information on changes that may impact delivery of naloxone to your site or staff contact updates
  • would like to arrange refresher training or training for new staff

Naloxone distribution by community organizations

Through the Ontario Naloxone Program (ONP), eligible organizations in the KFL&A area can work with KFL&A Public Health to get free naloxone kits and training to offer to their eligible clients. Please note: KFL&A Public Health cannot provide naloxone for use in the workplace.

Eligibility requirements

Eligible organizations include AIDS service organizations, Community Health Centers, outreach organizations, shelters, and withdrawal management programs, and other organizations or programs that can help fill a gap in naloxone access. Organizations must:

  • Work directly with people who use drugs through harm reduction, outreach, or determinants of health programming and services.
  • Be able to safely store naloxone and have staffing and other capacity necessary to support naloxone distribution.
  • Enter into a service agreement with KFL&A Public Health.
  • Submit monthly reports (number of naloxone kits distributed and people trained).
  • Provide kits and training only to eligible clients (clients who are at risk of opioid poisoning or a loved one of someone at risk).
  • Ensure staff involved in naloxone distribution have received training.

KFL&A Public Health staff will work with you through the enrollment process, provide required training and support you to ensure a smooth integration of naloxone distribution into your organization’s day-to-day activities.

Contact KFL&A Public Health for more information.

 

Already a naloxone distribution site? Contact KFL&A Public Health if you:

  • have questions relating to your naloxone order or report
  • need to provide information on changes that may impact delivery of naloxone to your site or staff contact updates
  • would like to arrange refresher training or training for new staff
Subscribe to page updates
Health Topics
  • Substance use health
    Toggle Section Substance use health Menu
    • Alcohol
    • Cannabis
    • Harm reduction
      Toggle Section Harm reduction Menu
      • Harm reduction supplies
      • Naloxone
      • Needle safety
    • Tobacco
    • Vaping
  • View full Health Topics menu
    Toggle Section
    • Dental health
      Toggle Section Dental health Menu
      • Dental care by age
      • Dental hygiene clinics
      • Water fluoridation
    • Health hazards
      Toggle Section Health hazards Menu
      • Extreme weather and climate change
      • Preparing for emergencies
      • Sun and UV safety
    • Food and healthy eating
      Toggle Section Food and healthy eating Menu
      • Choose water
      • Food and nutrition services
      • Food safety
      • Healthy food choices by age
        Toggle Section Healthy food choices by age Menu
        • Feeding your baby
        • Introducing solid foods
      • Safe food handler training
      • The cost of eating healthy
    • Immunizations and vaccines
      Toggle Section Immunizations and vaccines Menu
      • COVID-19 vaccine
        Toggle Section COVID-19 vaccine Menu
        • Nuvaxovid Vaccine
      • Immunization records and reporting
      • Immunization schedule by age
      • Tips before getting vaccinated
    • Infections and infectious diseases
      Toggle Section Infections and infectious diseases Menu
      • Avian influenza (bird flu)
      • COVID-19
        Toggle Section COVID-19 Menu
        • COVID-19 surveillance in KFL&A
        • School and child care (COVID-19)
        • Self-isolation
      • Infection prevention and control lapses
      • Influenza
      • Lyme and tickborne diseases
      • Mpox (monkeypox) virus
      • Preventing the spread of respiratory infections
      • Rabies
      • Tuberculosis
      • Vomiting and diarrhea (gastroenteritis)
    • Injury prevention and safety
      Toggle Section Injury prevention and safety Menu
      • On and off-road safety
      • Preventing a fall
      • Sun and UV safety
      • Concussions
    • Mental well-being
      Toggle Section Mental well-being Menu
      • Children and youth mental health
      • Eating disorders and disordered eating
      • Improving your mental health
      • Mental health services
      • Perinatal mood disorder
    • Parenting
      Toggle Section Parenting Menu
      • Babies and toddlers
      • Parenting emails
      • School aged children
    • Physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep
      Toggle Section Physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep Menu
      • Physical activity
        Toggle Section Physical activity Menu
        • Physical activity for babies and toddlers
        • Physical activity for school aged children
        • Physical activity for adults
        • Active transportation
      • Sedentary behaviour
      • Sleep
        Toggle Section Sleep Menu
        • Sleep for babies and toddlers
        • Sleep for school aged children
        • Sleep for adults
    • Pregnancy
      Toggle Section Pregnancy Menu
      • Having a healthy pregnancy
      • Infant loss
      • Planning for a healthy pregnancy
      • Staying healthy after pregnancy
    • Safe water
      Toggle Section Safe water Menu
      • Algae blooms
      • Beach water listings
      • Boil water advisory
      • Drinking water
      • Lead and drinking water
      • Water fluoridation
    • Sexual health
      Toggle Section Sexual health Menu
      • Contraception
      • Sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections
      • Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV (PrEP)
    • Violence

Contact Us

kfla Public Health footer logo

Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health works together with our communities to promote and protect the public's health. Our commitment is to provide public health programs and services of the highest quality.

  • View our Facebook Page
  • View our Twitter Page
  • View our Instagram Page
  • View our YouTube Page
  • View our LinkedIn Page
  • Health Topics
  • Organizations and Professionals
  • Clinics and Classes
  • About Us

Links:

  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Feedback
  • Ontario 211
  • Privacy and records
  • Sitemap
  • Terms of reference
  • Viral respiratory mapper
Scroll to top of page

© 2023 KFL&A Public Health

By GHD Digital

I Want To:

Report

  • Childcare discharges
  • Food-borne illness
  • Immunizations

Apply or register

  • Clinics
  • Employment and volunteering
  • Open a food premise
  • Personal service settings
  • Parenting emails
  • Special events for organizers and vendors

Access

  • Dental programs
  • Inspection results and enforcement actions
  • Beach water listings
  • Well water testing
  • COVID-19 surveillance in KFL&A

Request

  • Harm reduction supplies
  • Immunizations records
  • PHIPA or MFIPPA records
  • Property record request
Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.