Take Home Naloxone Program: Information for Consumers
What is the Take Home Naloxone Program?
Under the Federal Government program, Naloxone is available for free in all Australian States and Territories to:
- People who are at risk of an overdose or adverse reaction, including people who use illicit drugs and people who use prescription opioid medications, and
- Carers, friends, family and community members.
A prescription is not required for supply and individuals can access naloxone from participating sites, which may include community pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, alcohol and other drug treatment services, injecting centres, homelessness/outreach services and dispensing doctors, depending on your location.
In Queensland, unlike all other schedule 3 (Pharmacist Only Medicines), the pharmacist does not need to get your personal details to label naloxone under this program.
Where to access Take Home Naloxone (THN)The Take Home Naloxone (THN) Program participating site locator is now available and replaces the lists of participating sites on the PPA website. We encourage you to visit the THN Program participating site locator which is available on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website.
Any queries regarding the THN site locator can be sent to the department at pharmacy.programs.admin@health.gov.au.
Please note: some Service Providers registered for the THN Program may have limited or no naloxone stock available. You may wish to contact each Service Provider to check they have stock, prior to attending the site.
Website: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/take-home-naloxone-program/where-to-access-naloxone
FAQs and Resources
What is Naloxone and why would I need it?
Opioid medicines are prescribed to help a patient manage their pain. Commonly prescribed opioids include codeine, oxycodone, morphine, tapentadol, fentanyl and buprenorphine. Heroin is also an opioid.
Taking other pain medicines or sleeping tablets, becoming confused about how and when to take pain medication (accidentally doubling up) and combining medication with alcohol increases a person’s opioid-related risk.
Opioids are the most common cause of drug-related death in Australia, however, there are simple steps which can reduce the risk for patients.
Naloxone reverses the effects of opioids if you or some else has a severe reaction. It is safe and could save a life.
Where can I access Naloxone?
- Approved providers include participating community pharmacies, hospital-based pharmacies, and approved medical practitioners in remote locations
- Authorised alternative suppliers include organisations providing alcohol and other drug treatment services, injecting centres and homelessness/outreach services, pending approval from relevant State and Territories.
How is Naloxone supplied?
Naloxone can be supplied in:
- An ampoule to be administered as an injection into the outer shoulder or thigh muscle (you will need a supply of needles and syringes to allow this)
- A pre-filled syringe ready for injection into the outer shoulder or thigh muscle
- A nasal spray ready for administration
Your pharmacist will explain how to use each of the different naloxone products to allow you to feel confident in being able to administer a dose. For further information, refer to the Consumer Medicines Information for each product:
How will I know if I need to administer Naloxone?
The signs of an opioid overdose include:
- The person will not respond to voice or touch
- Blue or purple-tinged lips and nails
- Slow, irregular breathing
- Snoring or 'gurgling'
- Pinpoint pupils
- Being cold and clammy
When an opioid overdose is suspected:
- Call an ambulance (000)
- Position the person in the recovery position to open their airway
- Administer naloxone
- If no response after 2-3 minutes, repeat the dose until the person begins to wake up
- Continue to monitor breathing and if the patient stops breathing, start CPR 30 compressions then 2 breaths and repeat
- Do not cancel the ambulance or leave the person once they wake up
- Tell the ambulance how many doses of naloxone have been given
Further information and resources:
For more information, please contact:
Page last updated on: 16 October 2025