Which strategies are effective for preventing overdose?

Access to and training on Naloxone is a well-established strategy for preventing overdose. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that can rapidly reverse the effects of opioid overdose, restoring normal breathing and consciousness when administered in a timely manner. By equipping individuals, families, and communities with Naloxone and teaching them how to use it, greater numbers of potential overdose situations can be effectively managed, significantly reducing fatalities associated with opioid overdoses.

While testing with a small dose from a new source might reduce the risk of overdose by allowing the individual to assess potency and purity, it does not eliminate the inherent dangers associated with opioid use. Furthermore, taking cold showers has no proven efficacy in reversing an overdose and may provide a false sense of security to individuals. Therefore, combining the strategies that involve Naloxone access and training with prudent drug use behaviors represents a comprehensive approach to overdose prevention.