Harm Reduction
Naloxone (Get Naloxone at KYC) (Other Naloxone Locations)
Naxolone is used to treat a narcotic overdose in an emergency situation to enable breathing while one is experiencing an overdose from opioids, heroin, fentanyl, or fentanyl analog. If you or an individual that you know is at risk of opioid overdose, Naloxone may save their life!
Naloxone is available in four various methods: injectable, auto-injector, intranasal and nasal spray. Naloxone is available over the counter or distributed freely by organizations. We recommend keeping Naxolone kits in your medicine cabinet and carrying them with you when you go out.
- How Naloxone Works: (Watch on Youtube)
- How to Use Naloxone Nasal Spray: (Watch on Youtube)
Fentanyl testing strips
For free Fentanyl test strips, contact recoverysupportservices@kennethyoung.org or call 224−229−7456
Testing drugs before potential use is another harm reduction method used to test the presence of fentanyl in drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and even MDMA. If the fentanyl strip determines that there is fentanyl in the substance, the person using the substance can decide whether or not they want to use the substance, use with a Naxolone rescue kit nearby, use less of the substance, or another option that would be safer.
Sterile Syringes (Find Free Syringe Programs Near You)
If someone is using injectable drugs, using sterile syringes with each use can greatly reduce the risk of spreading HIV and hepatitis. It is also useful to properly dispose of used needles so others are not at risk of harming themselves.