Frequently Asked Questions

See below for some of our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), separated by topic. If you’re unable to find what you’re looking for, please contact us!

• Naloxone

  What is naloxone?
  Naloxone is a safe and effective medication that is used to reverse an opioid overdose in as little as 2-5 minutes. It cannot be used to get high, is not addictive, and is not harmful to someone who doesn’t have opioids in their system.

  Are naloxone and NARCAN® the same thing?
  Yes and no. Naloxone is the generic medication that reverses an opioid overdose. NARCAN® is a brand name for naloxone nasal spray. Sometimes people will use “naloxone” and “NARCAN®” interchangeably, but NARCAN® refers only to the branded nasal spray product.

  Do I need a prescription to carry naloxone?
  In MN, you do not need your own prescription to carry and administer naloxone. Depending on the type of naloxone, however, you might need a prescription to get naloxone from a pharmacy or drug store.

  NARCAN® (the brand name only) is currently available over the counter. This means that you do not need a prescription to buy NARCAN® from a store or pharmacy. All other forms of naloxone, including intramuscular (vial and syringe), auto-injector, and any other naloxone nasal sprays that are NOT NARCAN®, require a prescription to obtain from a pharmacy or drug store. In Minnesota, Steve’s Law makes these prescriptions easier to obtain:
  

  • Pharmacists can issue a Rx to you on site, it does not need to come from a doctor in advance
  • Prescriptions can be third-party (issued to a person who is not the person who intends to use the medication)

  *Please note that every state has its own naloxone laws and regulations. Refer to your individual state’s laws for guidance.

  As a reminder, you do not need a prescription to get naloxone from a community organization and it is legal to carry and administer the medication without a prescription.

  Do you provide nasal naloxone kits?
  Due to the significant cost differential and the increasing demand for naloxone saturation in our communities, Steve Rummler HOPE Network primarily distributes intramuscular (IM) naloxone kits.

  My naloxone is expired. What should I do?
  Naloxone has an FDA-required shelf life of two years, but studies have shown the medication to still be effective for years, even decades, after its expiration. The medication doesn’t “go bad,” it just may become less effective over time. If your naloxone is expired…

  • In an emergency situation: Use it. If you have no other naloxone available, expired naloxone is much better than nothing. It can still potentially revive someone experiencing an overdose.
  • If it’s not an emergency: contact odp@rummlerhope.org and we can get you a new kit.
• Naloxone Training

  How do I set up a training for my staff, club, or other group?
  To schedule a group training, please start by filling out this form.

  Will you travel outside of the metro area for trainings?
  Yes. We do our best to accommodate all requests across the state of Minnesota. We also offer virtual trainings over Zoom.

  How long are your naloxone trainings?
  Our live trainings run about one hour. We have a condensed training available online which takes about 15 minutes to complete.

  Is there a cost for your trainings?
  No. Our trainings are free of charge. Our goal is to make naloxone as accessible as possible and we never want cost to be a barrier. Donations are always appreciated.

  Is your training a CPR class?
  No. We do cover rescue breaths in our training curriculum as opioid overdoses cause respiratory depression, but Steve Rummler HOPE Network does not provide formal CPR training. Please visit https://cpr.heart.org/en/ for more information on CPR training.

  Is your training a certification program? Do I have to be certified to carry or administer naloxone?
  No and no. Unlike CPR, there is no standardized certification program in naloxone administration, however,  Steve Rummler HOPE Network does provide any interested participants with a certificate of completion after their training session.

  Does your naloxone training fulfill Continuing Education credits?
  Yes! New in 2023, our full naloxone training (in-person or Zoom webinar with a live trainer) does fulfill one (1) credit hour for the following groups:

  • Alcohol and Drug Counselors (ADC-MN, ADCR-MN)
  • Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselors (AADCR-MN)
  • Clinical Supervisors (CCSR)
  • Peer Recovery Specialists (CPRS, CPRSR)
  • Prevention Professionals (CPP, CPPA, CPPR)
  • Nurse (RN, APRN, LPN)
  • Social Workers (LICSW)

  To receive a certificate for credit hours, you must complete the post-training survey provided by your trainer.

• Certificates and Continuing Education

  How can I receive a Certificate of Completion for SRHN’s naloxone training?
  To receive a Certificate of Completion, trainees must fill out our post-training survey (provided by the trainer) and select the option to receive a certificate. Upon survey submission, the Certificate will be sent to the email address provided. If the Certificate has not been received within a day, please check your spam folder.

  Does your naloxone training fulfill Continuing Education credits?
  Yes! Our full naloxone training (in-person or Zoom webinar with a live trainer) does fulfill one (1) credit hour for the following groups:

  • Alcohol and Drug Counselors (ADC-MN, ADCR-MN)
  • Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselors (AADCR-MN)
  • Clinical Supervisors (CCSR)
  • Peer Recovery Specialists (CPRS, CPRSR)
  • Prevention Professionals (CPP, CPPA, CPPR)
  • Nurse (RN, APRN, LPN)
  • Social Workers (LICSW)

  To receive a certificate for credit hours, you must complete the post-training survey provided by your trainer.

  Can professional groups other than those listed above receive CEUs for SRHN’s naloxone training?
  For individuals who do not belong to the pre-approved professional groups listed above, a general certificate will be sent, indicating the completion of 1 hour of educational content. SRHN cannot guarantee that this general certificate will be recognized or accredited by other authorities, institutions, or licensing bodies.

• Steve’s Law (MN’s Good Samaritan and Naloxone Legislation)

  What is Steve’s Law?
  Steve’s Law is Minnesota’s Good Samaritan and Naloxone legislation. It is named after Steve Rummler, who passed away from an opioid overdose in 2011. Steve’s Law does three major things to help prevent opioid overdose deaths:

  • It provides limited immunity from charges related to use and possession of drugs and paraphernalia to both the individual experiencing a drug overdose and the person seeking medical assistance
  • It expands access to naloxone by allowing doctors and pharmacists to prescribe the medication to anyone, not just those at risk of an overdose
  • It allows first responders and the public to carry and administer the medication without a prescription

  
  What does “limited immunity” mean? What are the limitations?
  The purpose of a Good Samaritan Law is to encourage bystanders to intervene in crises. Like many medical emergencies, the chance of surviving an opioid overdose depends on how quickly an individual receives medical assistance. In situations involving substance use, fear of arrest can sometimes prevent people from seeking help.

  There are currently some limitations to this immunity:

  • The protections provided by Steve’s Law apply only to the person experiencing the overdose and the person seeking medical assistance, not to other bystanders
  • Immunity is provided for using and possessing drugs related to the overdose being reported (up to 3 grams of heroin, cocaine or methamphetamine; up to 10 grams of other narcotics; or up to 10 kilograms marijuana). Immunity is not provided for anyone involved in charges related to the buying or selling of drugs.
  • Immunity is not provided for outstanding warrants for arrest, perpetrating violence against another person, or gun possession.

  
  To summarize: You cannot be arrested for drug use or paraphernalia related to the overdose, but you may be arrested for outstanding warrants and other criminal activity on the scene.

• Naloxone Access Points (NAPs)

  What is a NAP?
  A Naloxone Access Point (NAP) is a publicly accessible pickup site for naloxone – and now, fentanyl test strips as well. Anyone can go into a NAP and request an SRHN naloxone or FTS kit, free of charge.

  How does it work? Do I just walk in and ask for a naloxone kit?
  Pretty much! Some locations ask that you call or text before you come, but most are just walk-in. Click on the map pin of the location you’d like to visit and check for any special instructions under the “Additional Notes” section.

  How do I become a NAP?
  If you’re interested in signing your organization up as Naloxone Access Point, please fill out this registration form (make sure to select “Yes” for NAP Program!). Please note that in order to be a NAP, your organization/business must meet a few necessary requirements:

  • Be open and accessible to the public
  • Have regular business hours (individuals cannot sign up their personal residences as NAPs)
  • Be publicly identified on our map
• Fentanyl and Fentanyl Test Strips (FTS)

  Is fentanyl dangerous to touch?
  Fentanyl needs to be introduced to the body through the bloodstream, ingestion, or contact with a mucous membrane. Fentanyl is unlikely to be absorbed through unbroken skin. Fentanyl patches, used to administer fentanyl medically, have additional mechanisms to penetrate the skin layer. It’s always important to be aware of your surroundings when responding to a crisis, use protective barriers like gloves if they are available, and avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes.

  Is fentanyl “naloxone resistant?”
  No. Despite its extreme potency, fentanyl is still an opioid and naloxone reverses opioid overdoses. If you are trying to revive someone who has overdosed on fentanyl and you find they are not responding to naloxone, follow these steps:

  • Give the medication 2 minutes to take effect (sometimes it can take up to 5 minutes, but you don’t want to wait this long if a person is being deprived of oxygen)
  • If after 2 minutes the person has still not awoken, administer another dose of naloxone
  • Wait 2 more mins, then administer a 3rd dose if there’s still no response
  • If the person still does not respond after multiple doses of naloxone, they may have been without oxygen for too long
  • Wait for medical care to arrive

  How do I test my drugs with fentanyl test strips?
  For instructions on how to use fentanyl test strips, you can watch our training video here, or view our instruction card.

  Do fentanyl test strips tell you how much fentanyl is present?
  No. Test strips do not tell any information about the percentages of fentanyl in drugs nor do they detect any other drugs. Fentanyl test strips will only tell you if the concentration of fentanyl or fentanyl analogues is greater than the threshold for giving a positive result.

  Is it true that these strips were designed for urine tests?
  Yes. Rapid Response Drug Test Strips are manufactured as urine tests, but have been used by harm reduction groups for years to test drug supplies before use and have been promoted by the manufacturer (BTNX Inc.) as an important tool in harm reduction strategies. Read more about how these strips have been proven to effectively reduce overdose risk:

  • Perspectives on rapid fentanyl test strips as a harm reduction practice among young adults who use drugs: a qualitative study – Harm Reduction Journal, 2019
  • Fentanyl Test Strip Pilot: San Francisco, 2017-2018 – National Harm Reduction Coalition, 2018

  
  Does a negative result mean that I’m not at risk of an overdose?
  No. No test can be guaranteed as 100% accurate, and no drug can be guaranteed 100% safe. Even if a fentanyl test strip reveals a negative result, there is still a risk for overdose. There are many risk factors to experiencing an opioid overdose (i.e. mixing drugs, reduced tolerance, using alone, unknown products, physical and mental health, etc.). In addition, fentanyl test strips do have some potential for false negatives and false positives and the drugs being tested may contain a fentanyl analogue that is not detected by the strips (FentCheck).

  Is it possible for marijuana to be laced with fentanyl?
  There have been many accounts of both marijuana and other cannabinoid products being contaminated with fentanyl, however there are currently little data available on confirmed cases of contamination. Unfortunately at this time, there are no clear guidelines as to how FTS could be used to detect fentanyl in these substances. In absence of the option to test, people planning to use these substances should always practice safer use strategies and have naloxone on hand.

  What is “Wooden Chest Syndrome”?
  Discovered during a study of opioids’ effects on the respiratory system in 1953 by Hamilton (MD) and Cullen (MD), wooden chest syndrome (WCS) is a rare condition that causes rigidity in skeletal muscles, making it hard for an individual to properly breathe. Exposure to intravenous fentanyl or other synthetic opioids poses a higher risk for developing WCS due to its high potency. Common physical signs of WCS are episodic “breath-holding spells,” tense abdominal muscles, a firmly locked jaw, and stiff extremities. In the most severe cases, an individual may not be able to breathe at all.

  Naloxone may be able reverse the effects and stop wooden chest syndrome, however rescue breaths may not be enough to help the individual in distress; mechanical ventilation may be needed. Call 911 if you suspect that an individual is experiencing an overdose or WCS and administer naloxone right away.

  Can you ship test strips out of state?
  At this time, we provide fentanyl test strips in Minnesota only. For info on harm reduction resources outside of MN (including mail order options), please visit https://nextdistro.org/testingdrugs

• Treatment & Recovery

  Are you a treatment facility?
  Steve Rummler HOPE Network does not provide direct client care. Our services include naloxone training and distribution and fentanyl test strips.

  Do you provide referrals?
  Not officially, but we’ll always do our best to help someone find what they’re looking for. For information on recovery resources visit: https://steverummlerhopenetwork.org/recovery/treatment-resources/

• Volunteering

  Do you have volunteer opportunities available?
  We take new volunteers on an ongoing basis. If you’re interested in volunteering for SRHN: start by filling out this form, which will get you added to our volunteer email list. We’ll send updates with volunteer opportunities, etc.

  How do I become a community naloxone trainer?
  If you’re interested in becoming a Community Trainer, you’ll begin the process by attending a Community Trainer Orientation Session. Our Overdose Prevention Manager hosts these sessions monthly via Zoom. Visit our public training calendar to find the meeting details.