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Naloxone is a medicine that temporarily reverses an opioid overdose. It is an opioid antagonist. This means that it attaches to opioid receptors and reverses and blocks the effects of other opioids. Naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing if a person's breathing has slowed or stopped because of an opioid overdose.¹ There are three forms of naloxone products available – nasal spray, injection, and auto-injection.

Opioid use disorder (OUD)

OUD is a problematic pattern of opioid use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress. A diagnosis is based on specific criteria, such as unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control use or use resulting in social problems and a failure to fulfill obligations at work, school, or home, among other criteria. Opioid use disorder is preferred over other terms with similar definitions. Terms such as "opioid abuse or dependence" or "opioid addiction" can be stigmatizing.²

Stigma

Stigma is discrimination against an identifiable group of people based on inaccurate beliefs. For people with a substance use disorder (SUD), stigma may stem from beliefs that people with SUD are at fault for their disease and are incapable of being treated.³ People with SUD may internalize this stigma leading to a reluctance to seek help.

Substance use disorder (SUD)

Substance use disorder is a condition in which there is uncontrolled use of a substance despite harmful consequence.⁴

^{1. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2021, June 1). Naloxone Drug Facts. Retrieved June 1, 2021, from}^{https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/naloxone} disclaimer3

^{2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. (2021, Jan 26). Commonly Used Terms. Retrieved August 3, 2021, from}^{https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/glossary/index.html}

^{3. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2021, May 25). Words Matter – Terms to Use and Avoid When Talking About Addiction. Retrieved May 27, 2021, from}^{https://nida.nih.gov/nidamed-medical-health-professionals/health-professions-education/words-matter-terms-to-use-avoid-when-talking-about-addiction} disclaimer3

^{4. American Psychiatric Association. (2020, December). What is a Substance Use Disorder? Retrieved May 27, 2021, from}^{https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/addiction/what-is-addiction#:~:text=Substance%20use%20disorder%20(SUD)%20is,a%20substance%20despite%20}

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