substance and addiction prevention branch

Key Takeaways Naloxone can save lives by reversing opioid overdoses - including those caused by fentanyl. There are no age restrictions – naloxone is safe for all ages, including children and teens. Anyone in California can carry naloxone - no prescription or training required. California schools must keep naloxone on hand and teach students about opioid safety. Free naloxone is available through state programs like the DHCS Naloxone Distribution Project.

Key Takeaways

Naloxone can save lives by reversing opioid overdoses - including those caused by fentanyl.
There are no age restrictions – naloxone is safe for all ages, including children and teens.
Anyone in California can carry naloxone - no prescription or training required.
California schools must keep naloxone on hand and teach students about opioid safety.
Free naloxone is available through state programs like the DHCS Naloxone Distribution Project.

Naloxone and Youth

Opioid overdose deaths – especially from illicitly manufactured fentanyl - have increased significantly in California in recent years, including among teens and young adults. Teens

Naloxone is a safe and effective medicine that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, including fentanyl overdose. Naloxone is available by prescription and sold over-the-counter as NARCAN® Nasal Spray and RiVive™ Nasal Spray.

California's 2023-24 budget included funding to make sure every middle and high school in the state has at least two doses of naloxone. A new California law also requires schools to teach opioid safety and include overdose response plans in their safety procedures. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to talk openly and honestly with young people about the risks of drug use.

No Age Restrictions for Naloxone

Naloxone is safe to use on anyone – of any age - if you suspect an opioid overdose. Naloxone is not a narcotic and is not addictive. It won't hurt someone who isn't actually overdosing on opioids.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) do not set any age limits for naloxone use. The FDA says naloxone can be used for people of all ages – including babies, children, and older adults.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics' website HealthyChildren.org, “There is virtually no downside to giving naloxone to a child or teen, even if you are not sure if they overdosed on opioids."

Written and video instructions for recognizing and responding to opioid overdose, including how to use naloxone, can be found on the Naloxone web page.

Anyone Can Carry Naloxone

Naloxone is available to anyone in California – no special permissions or training required.

Some California schools, like the Los Angeles Unified School District, and youth-serving organizations have created naloxone policies to help respond to the rise in opioid overdoses among youth.

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Naloxone Distribution Project offers free naloxone to eligible groups, including schools and universities.

Even though you don't need a prescription or a special order to get naloxone over-the-counter, the Statewide Standing Order for Naloxone can still offer legal protections for those who distribute or administer it. Learn more here: CA Civil Code Section 1714.22.

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

RiVive™ is a trademark of Harm Reduction Therapeutics, Inc.

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

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