Naloxone Training Information

What is Naloxone?

Naloxone (or NarcanTM) is a proven tool in the battle against drug abuse and overdose death. When too much of an opioid medication is taken, it can slow breathing to a dangerously low rate. When breathing slows too much, overdose death can occur. Naloxone can reverse this potentially fatal situation by allowing the person to breathe normally again.

Naloxone is not a dangerous medicine. However, proper training is required by law. Any time an overdose is suspected, first responders should be notified by calling 911 immediately and stay with the patient until first responders arrive. It is important to know that some patients may awake disoriented or agitated after receiving naloxone. This is a good sign, but calling 911 is still very important to help the person survive.

The “Good Samaritan” Law protects you (see Public Chapter 623)

In July 2014, Tennessee became the 18th state to pass and support a "Good Samaritan" civil immunity law centered on the lifesaving medicine naloxone.

The legislation has four key components:                                                                                

  1. Grants immunity from civil suit to providers who prescribe naloxone to a patient, family member, friend or other person in a position to assist giving the medicine naloxone.                                                         
  2. Allows the Department of Health to provide training and instruction on how to use naloxone.
  3. Requires you to receive basic instruction, including taking the quiz and printing the certificate, on how to give naloxone.
  4. Grants a "Good Samaritan" civil immunity for administering the medicine to someone they reasonably believe is overdosing on an opioid.

The Tennessee Addiction Treatment Act protects you

Under this bill, any person who in good faith seeks medical assistance for a person experiencing or believed to be experiencing a drug overdose, the person for whom such medical assistance is requested, or any person experiencing a drug overdose who in good faith seeks medical assistance will not be subject to the following, if related to the seeking of medical assistance:

  1. Arrest, charge, or prosecution for simple possession and casual exchange or possession of drug paraphernalia, if the evidence for such arrest, charge, or prosecution resulted from seeking such medical assistance;
  2. Penalties for a violation of a permanent or temporary protective order or restraining order; or
  3. Sanctions for a violation of a condition of pretrial release, condition of probation, or condition of parole based on a drug violation.

Training Resources

For Health professionals

For General Public

Training and Self-Assessment  

Using the link below you will be able to receive training on naloxone administration, take a self-assessment and receive a certificate of completion (be sure to enter your name and the date on the certificate of completion). Completing the process will take between 15 and 20 minutes .  

https://apps.health.tn.gov/naloxone/savealife/

Additional Resources

** Page last updated December 2019 **