Editorial discussing this topic under the headings: the opioid antidote naloxone; harm reduction strategies for pain management; naloxone nasal drug delivery by emergency medical technicians; take-home naloxone for opioid abusers; the role of the pharmacist.  Concludes that 'the paradigms discussed above related to therapeutic use of opioids in pain management, emergency medicine, and the abusing population deserve consideration.  Pharmacists can take a leading role in developing legislation that is permissive of naloxone rescue.  Clearly, pharmacists can assist in the training and dissemination of information regarding the proposed rescue programme with their local community emergency medical services staff.  Finally, pharmacy organisations should take a leading role in designing opioid harm reduction strategies, research studies, and operational models for pharmacists in their communities. (31 refs.)