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substance and addiction prevention branch

naloxone (Narcan) spray, stop opioid overdose with naloxone

What is naloxone?

Naloxone is a life-saving medication used to reverse an opioid overdose, including heroin, fentanyl and prescription opioid medications. Naloxone can be quickly given through nasal spray (NarcanĀ®) in the nose, or through an injectable or auto-injector into the outer thigh or another major muscle. Naloxone is safe and easy to use, works almost immediately, and is not addictive. Naloxone has very few negative effects, and has no effect if opioids are not in a personā€™s system.

naloxone nasal spray, auto-injector, and injectable

Who should carry naloxone?

  • Family and friends: If you or someone you know is at increased risk for opioid overdose, especially those with opioid use disorder (OUD), you should carry naloxone and keep it at home.

  • People who are taking high-dose opioid medications (greater or equal to 50 morphine milligram equivalents per day) prescribed by a doctor, people who use opioids and benzodiazepines together, and people who use drugs, should all carry naloxone. Because you cannot use naloxone on yourself, let others know you have it in case you experience an opioid overdose.

California's Good Samaritan law protects those giving emergency medical care at the scene of a medical emergency, including giving naloxone.ā€‹
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Why carry naloxone?ā€‹ā€‹

Carrying naloxone provides an extra layer of protection for those at a higher risk for overdose. Although most professional first responders and emergency departments carry naloxone, they may not arrive in time to reverse an opioid overdose. Anyone can carry naloxone, give it to someone having an overdose, and potentially save a life. Bystanders such as friends, family, non-health care providers and persons who use drugs can reverse an opioid overdose with naloxone.

How to recognize an opioid overdose:

Recognizing the signs of an overdose can save a life. Signs of an overdose may include:

  • Small, constricted "pinpoint pupils"
  • Falling asleep or losing consciousness
  • Slow, weak or no breathing
  • Choking or gurgling sounds
  • Limp body
  • Cold and/or clammy skin
  • Discolored skin (especially in lips and nails)

How to respond to an opioid overdose:

It may be hard to tell if someone is experiencing an overdose. If you are not sure, treat it like an overdose - you could save a life. With a fentanyl overdose, two or more doses of naloxone may need to be given.

  1. Call 911 and give naloxone
  2. Keep the person awake and breathing
  3. Lay the person on their side to prevent choking
  4. Stay with the person until 911 responders arrive

ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹Where can you get naloxone?

ā€‹NarcanĀ® is now available over the counter. Visit the ā€‹ā€‹Over the Counter ā€‹(OTC) Naloxoneā€‹ webpage to learn more.

Anyone: pharmacies and local organizationsā€‹ā€‹ā€‹

Anyone can get naloxone from a pharmacy or from a local organization that has a naloxone distribution program, such as a local opioid or overdose safety coalition or a syringe services program.ā€‹

Qualified organizations: Naloxone Distribution Project

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) provides naloxone to qualified organizations to distribute naloxone within communities. Learn more by visiting the Naloxone Distribution Project.

People who use drugs: mail-based and harm reduction services

If you are a person who uses drugs and you do not have a resource in your community, you may be able to access mail-based naloxone through Next Distro.

ā€‹The Naloxone Finder below, from the National Harm Reduction Coalition, provides information on how to locate naloxone in the community.ā€‹ā€‹

ā€‹How do you store and dispose of naloxone?

Naloxone storage

  • Follow manufacturer instructions for storing naloxone. Storage instructions may be different.
  • Keep naloxone in its box until ready for use.
  • Protect from light.
  • Store at room temperature below 77Ā°F (25Ā°C).
  • Do not freeze or expose to heat above 104Ā°F (40Ā°C).
  • Store in a safe location.
Learn more about NarcanĀ®ā€‹ storage.

Naloxone disposal

Unused naloxone: Dispose of unused naloxone at a local pharmacy or through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. Learn more about safe disposal options.

Used naloxone:

  • Nasal spray, such as NarcanĀ®: Put the used naloxone nasal spray back into its box. Dispose of it in solid waste trash.
  • Injectable naloxone: Put the used injectable naloxone back into its original container/box. Used injectable naloxone is considered medical waste and must be disposed of in a sharps disposal bin, such as at a local pharmacy. Do not throw away used injectable naloxone in solid waste trash.

Expired naloxone

Expired naloxone is better than no naloxone: If you have expired or soon-to-expire intranasal NarcanĀ® or injectable (intramuscular) naloxone that has been properly stored, contact a local syringe services program about donating the naloxone. If you have a large amount (10+ doses), you can contact NEXT Distro about donating the naloxone.

NarcanĀ®ā€‹ nasal spray shelf-life extension: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an extended shelf-life for the nasal spray formulation of naloxone (NarcanĀ®ā€‹ [PDF]) from two years (24 months) to three years (36 months).ā€‹ā€‹

Naloxone training

An important part of a naloxone distribution program is to provide training to individuals who may give naloxone. Listed below are training resources.

Laws and regulations

California laws protect persons who give naloxone and make naloxone more readily available.

Good Samaritan Law

A person cannot be liable for any civil damages that result from his or her providing of emergency care, if:

  1. The person acted in good faith, and not for compensation;
  2. The person provided either emergency medical care or nonmedical care; and
  3. The care was provided at the scene of an emergency.

Drug Overdose Treatment Liability Law

Eliminates civil and criminal liability for:

  1. Licensed health care providers that prescribe naloxone and issue standing orders for the distribution of naloxone; and
  2. Individuals that administer naloxone to someone suspected of experiencing an overdose after receiving it along with required training.ā€‹ā€‹

Califā€‹ornia's statewide sā€‹tanding order for naloxone

The California State Public Health Officer has issued a CDPH statewide standing order to increase access to naloxone. Review the FAQs (PDF) ā€‹and terms and conditions to determine if your organization or entity should apply here:

CDPā€‹ā€‹H Naloxone Standing Order Application Ā»

Naloxone Grant Program

California Senate Bill (SB) 833 (Chapter 30, Statutes of 2016) added Part 6.2, Section 1179.80 to the California Health & Safety Code to require the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to establish the Naloxone Grant Program. The goal of the program was to reduce the number of fatal overdoses in California from opioid drugs, including prescription opioids and heroin, by increasing access to the life-saving drug naloxone. The California Legislature allocated a one-time appropriation of $3 million from the General Fund in the Budget Act of 2016 to support this program through June 30, 2019. See the Naloxone Grant Program Final Report (PDF).

ā€‹ Resources

Clinicians

Healthcare Administrators

Pharmacists

Family Members and Caregivers

Sources


NarcanĀ® is a registered trademark of Emergent Operations Ireland Limited.

ā€‹For questions, please contact us at opi@cdph.ca.gov.

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