Opioid Treatment & Overdose Response

Substances Use Prevention and Treatment Services at OCH  

We are here to support you in your journey with whatever your recovery goals may be for substance use treatment Sacramento. We have a dedicated, compassionate team with an approach rooted in harm reduction. Our outpatient substance use services include: 

  • Overdose prevention and response education and supplies (like test strips and Narcan) 
  • Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT) for opioid use, methamphetamine use, and alcohol use 
  • Support from peer advocates with lived experience 
  • Outpatient group support with our Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) program 
  • Individualized therapy 
  • Linkage to other in-house services including HIV care, primary care, psychiatry, and prenatal care 

Walk-in appointments for substance use treatment Sacramento are available. Get linked to care are currently available Monday-Friday from 8:00 am-4:00pm at our Midtown location. You may also be scheduled in advance for an appointment at either our Midtown or Arden locations by calling (916) 443-3299. 

Overdose Prevention and Response  

An opioid overdose can happen when the body is overwhelmed by opioids or a combination of opioids and other substances (like alcohol). It is a medical emergency!  

Here at OCH, we offer free naloxone (Narcan) to anyone who wants it. Naloxone is an opioid blocker that can reverse an opioid overdose and save a person’s life. Anyone can be trained to give naloxone.  

To respond to an overdose using naloxone, follow these steps: 

  1. IDENTIFY AN OVERDOSE  
    • The person doesn’t wake up after you shout their name or shake their shoulders. 
    • Breathing is very slow, irregular or has stopped.  
    • Skin has a blue or grayish tint, usually at the lips and fingertips.  
    • Pulse is faint. 
  1. GIVE NALOXONE (NARCAN) 
    • Lay the person on their back. 
    • Peel back the package to remove the naloxone spray. 
    • Give one spray in the nostril.  
  1. CALL 911  
    • Tell the dispatcher that you suspect someone is having an overdose.  
    • If possible, have someone else call 911 so that you can stay with the person who is overdosing. 
  1. GIVE RESCUE BREATHS and/or CHEST COMPRESSIONS 
    • If the person isn’t breathing: tilt the head back, lift the chin, and pinch the nose. Give 1 breath about every 5 seconds.  
    • If you have training and the person doesn’t have a pulse, give chest compressions. 
  1. REASSESS 
    • If the person is still not responding 2 minutes after the first naloxone dose, give a second spray of naloxone and continue with rescue breaths and/or chest compressions. 
    • It’s very common for people to need multiple doses of naloxone. 
  1. RECOVERY 
    • When the person wakes up, explain what has happened.  
    • They may be very uncomfortable or scared and in opioid withdrawal. 
    • If you need to leave the person alone for any reason, place them on their side in the recovery position.   
    • Encourage the person to go to the hospital for closer monitoring.  
    • If the person does not go to the hospital, stay with them for at least 4 hours after they have woken up.  

Video of naloxone administration – Administering Naloxone (youtube.com) 

Woman performing CPR on man.

Frequently asked questions about Substance Use Treatment in Sacramento

  1. Is naloxone safe?
    • Yes, use naloxone even if you’re not sure what kind of drugs someone took.
    • If you find someone who is unresponsive and you aren’t sure if a drug overdose is the cause, it is still safe to give naloxone. 

  2. How should I store naloxone?
    • Keep it at room temperature and out of direct light. 
    • Keep it readily accessible. 
    • Make sure anyone you use drugs with knows that you have naloxone and knows where it is stored. 

  3. How long is naloxone good for?
    • It typically has a shelf life of 3 years. Each box of naloxone will have an expiration date on it. 

  4. Are higher doses of naloxone or alternatives like namafene preferred?
    • No. At this time there has not been any documented survival benefit to these alternatives. It’s best to give the lowest dose of naloxone possible to reverse an overdose. 

What NOT to do in an overdose 

  • DO NOT put the individual in a bath. They could drown. 
  • DO NOT induce vomiting or give the individual something to drink. They could choke. 
  • DO NOT put the person in an ice bath or put ice in their clothing. Cooling down the core temperature during an overdose is dangerous because it can further reduce heart rate. 
  • DO NOT try and stimulate the individual in any case that could cause harm.