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What is Naloxone (Narcan)?

​Naloxone is a life-saving medication used to reverse an opioid overdose, including fentanyl, heroin, and prescription opioid medications.

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Naloxone can be quickly given through nasal spray (Narcan) in the nose or through an injectable or auto-injector into the outer thigh or another major muscle.

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Naloxone is safe and easy to use, works almost immediately, and is not addictive. Naloxone has very few negative effects and has no effect if opioids are not in a person’s system.

Where can I get Naloxone?

We proudly operate three Narcan vending machines throughout Hilo, where individuals can get free Narcan without stigma; the physical locations are below. The machines outside BISAC are accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Narcan is also available at our weekly Pop-Ups outside KTA Super Stores islandwide. To find this schedule, visit the Events Page.

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YMCA Hilo

300 W. Lanikaula Street

Hilo, HI 96720

BISACs Hulihia Ke Ola Detox Clinic

41 Hōkū Street

Hilo, HI 96720

BISACs Outpatient Facility/Wellness Center

297 Waiānuenue Avenue

Hilo, HI 96720

Through our partnerships with community organizations, we've established hubs to help distribute Naloxone. Hawaiʻi Island is enormous and filled with small rural neighborhoods where a Naloxone vending machine can be overbearing.

 

The locations below are hubs that help us distribute free Naloxone (Narcan):​​​​​​​​

North Kohala Community Resource Center

Kohala Resilience Hub

55-514 Hawi Road

Hawi, HI 96719

Tutu's House

​64-1032 Mamalahoa Highway, # 304

Kamuela, HI 96743

The Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center has spearheaded efforts to place vending machines in various locations throughout the state, helping to strengthen the supply chain and increasing access. To view their statewide Naloxone Vending Machine Tracker, visit www.hhhrc.org/naloxone

How to use Naloxone Nasal Spray

When people experience an opioid overdose, you can restore their breathing and save their lives by giving Naloxone. Below are quick and fast steps on how to administer Naloxone nasal spray accurately. You can find these steps on Naloxone kits.

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STEP 1: Check

  • CHECK for a suspected overdose: the person will not wake up or is very sleepy or not breathing well

  • Yell “Wake Up!”

  • Shake the person gently

  • If the person is not awake, go to step 2

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STEP 2: Give Naloxone

  • GIVE the first dose in the nose

  • HOLD the nasal spray device with your thumb on the bottom of the plunger

  • INSERT the nozzle into either NOSTRIL

  • PRESS the plunger firmly to give the first dose

  • One nasal spray device contains one dose

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STEP 3: Call 911

  • CALL 911 immediately after giving the first dose

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STEP 4: Watch & Give

  • WAIT 2-3 minutes after the first dose to give the medicine time to work

  • If the person wakes up, go to step 5

  • If the person does not wake up:

    • CONTINUE TO GIVE doses every 2-3 minutes until the person wakes up

    • it is safe to keep giving doses

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STEP 5: Stay

  • STAY until the ambulance arrives: even if the person wakes up

  • GIVE another dose if the person becomes very sleepy again

  • You may need to give all the doses in the pack

Download a printable
version of the Opioid Overdose Response resource.

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Learn more about Naloxone from one of our partners,

the Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center

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