Working Together to Reduce Opioid Overdose and Drug-Related Deaths

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical center has partnered with Project DAWN (Deaths Avoid With Naloxone) to provide training and free naloxone kits at our hospital pharmacy locations beginning Nov. 5.  A prescription is not necessary to receive training or to pick up the medication. 

Who should pick up a kit?

Anyone can pick up a kit and get trained.  Whether you are caring for a patient that uses opioids to manage pain or know someone with an opioid addiction, getting trained and picking up a kit can help save a life.

What training will I receive?

When you stop at the pharmacy, the pharmacist will have you fill out a form, provide written training instructions and the medication kit. 

You will be trained on: 
• Recognizing the signs and symptoms of overdose
• Performing rescue breathing
• Calling 911
• Administering intranasal naloxone

Where can I pick up free naloxone without a prescription?

Pharmacy at The James
460 W. 10th Ave., L012 (Lower Level)
Columbus, OH 43210
614-293-5920

Hours:
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Ohio State University Holidays, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Pharmacy at East Hospital
181 Taylor Ave. (Ground Level)
Columbus, OH 43203
614-257-2628

Hours:
Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

What is Naloxone?

Naloxone (also known as Narcan®) is a medication that can reverse an overdose caused by an opioid drug (heroin, fentanyl, or prescription pain medications). When administered during an overdose, naloxone blocks the effects of opioids on the brain and quickly restores breathing. Naloxone has been used safely by emergency medical professionals for more than 40 years and has only one critical function: to reverse the effects of opioids in order to prevent overdose death. Naloxone has no potential for abuse.

If naloxone is given to a person who is not experiencing an opioid overdose, it is harmless. If naloxone is administered to a person who is dependent on opioids, it will produce withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal, although uncomfortable, is not life-threatening.

Additional Resources

Map of Project DAWN sites and naloxone access locations
Implementing a Community Take-Home Naloxone Distribution Program for Lay Responders: A Statewide Toolkit for Ohio 
Project DAWN brochure (English)
Project DAWN brochure (Spanish)
Project DAWN Training Video - (MP4 format) (YouTube)