A quick guide for credentialed workers

This guide provides instructions for delivering the take home naloxone intervention to clients.

Last updated: 08 April 2026

Determine client eligibility. Ensure informed consent has been obtained. Assess whether the client is at risk of overdose from illicit or pharmaceutical opioids (including those currently using, who have recently used, or who may return to use after a period of abstinence), is using other illicit drugs, or is likely to witness an overdose. Consider any contraindications (e.g. hypersensitivity) and precautions (e.g. pregnancy or breastfeeding).
Introduce the Take Home Naloxone intervention to the client. Describe its purpose (‘to help people respond to and prevent deaths from overdose’), likely duration of intervention (10-20 minutes), and involves the supply of take home naloxone at no cost.
Assess and address client’s understanding of overdose: either unstructured (clinical assessment) or use the Take Home Naloxone Client Questionnaire and provide feedback using the Consumer Information Sheet.
Discuss with client the choice between prefilled syringe for intramuscular injection or intranasal naloxone. Demonstrate the contents and use of Prenoxad® (injected) and Nyxoid® (intranasal). Please note only Nyxoid® should be supplied to people under 18 years.
Worker and client to complete the Take Home Naloxone Checklist and Record of Supply form.
Worker to supply naloxone to client (client’s preferred formulation i.e. either nasal spray or pre-filled syringe if possible) in accordance with the Procedures, including labelling, and record in the Drug stock control sheet / imprest log book.
File completed documents in client medical record (where patient medical record exists) or where no individual client medical records are maintained (e.g. NSP, outreach), file in a Take Home Naloxone intervention folder at each participating site.