Overdose Awareness Week

Following on from NOVAS’ determined response to overdose in our communities, all residents of McGarry House are being encouraged to register for Naloxone.

Naloxone is a medication that is used to reverse the effects of opoids. Over the past number of months, NOVAS staff have been trained in the administration of Naloxone. Over the coming months it is anticipated that our service users will also be trained as part of a peer support mechanism for heroin users.

As part of Overdose Awareness Week assessments are being offered to our service users who on completion can proceed to become part of the Limerick pilot programme. Naloxone is only prescribed to individuals who are opiod users. The NOVAS involvement in this pilot stems from research carried out at McGarry House last Year entitled “Heads UP” which was a research project in to overdose among McGarry House residents.