What Is Naloxone?

Naloxone is a safe medication that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose.

What is Naloxone?

Naloxone is a safe medication that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. It has been used for over 40 years in emergency medicine. Naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing to a person if their breathing has slowed or stopped because of an opioid overdose. It can quickly wake someone up in just a few minutes.

Naloxone has no effect on someone who does not have opioids in their system, and there are no known side effects (e.g., no allergic reactions, no potential for abuse). It is not a controlled substance nor is it a treatment for opioid use disorder.

Naloxone is available with or without a prescription.
How Does it Work?

Naloxone, sold under the brand name Narcan and Evzio, is a prescription drug that can reverse an opioid overdose within a matter of minutes.

It works by displacing opioids from receptor sites in the brain for 30-90 minutes. This is especially important for rural areas, as emergency services response times can be longer.

Naloxone (Narcan) can temporarily stop the effect of opioids and help a person breathe again. It can be given as an injection into the muscle or as an intranasal spray. It is easy and safe to use. Naloxone is not a controlled substance.
Who Should Carry Naloxone?
- Individuals taking high doses of opioids as prescribed for the management of chronic pain
- Individuals taking prescription opioids concurrently with alcohol or sedating medications (i.e. benzodiazepines)
- Individuals misusing prescription opioids or using illicit opioids such as heroin
- Individuals with a history of opioid use disorder
- Individuals completing opioid detoxification
- Individuals recently discharged from emergency medical care following an opioid overdose
- Individuals recently released from incarceration with a history of opioid use disorder
- Family and friends of people who have opioid use disorder
- Community members who come into contact with people at risk for opioid overdose
How Can I Get Naloxone?

Community members and First Responders can have naloxone (Narcan) on hand in case of an emergency. Community members can register for a one-hour online training conducted by the Jefferson County Department of Health on how to recognize, prevent, and respond to an opioid overdose by using naloxone. Once the online training is complete, a free naloxone kit will be sent to the address provided at registration. This is available to anyone.

Community Resources

First Responder Self Paced Training Free Naloxone for First Responders Free Naloxone and Fentanyl Test Strips

Types of Naloxone and How to Administer:

Narcan Nasal Spray
HOW TO GIVE NARCAN NASAL SPRAY:
- Call 911.
- Lay the person down, tilt their head back, and put one hand under their neck.
- Insert the nasal spray in one of their nostrils with your other hand.
- Push the plunger on the device with your thumb to administer the nasal spray.
If the person is not breathing…
- Use personal protective equipment (i.e., gloves, breath barrier device) if you have them available.
- Roll the person onto their back.
- Seal your mouth over theirs and breathe in 1 breath every 5 seconds. Their chest should rise, not their stomach.
- Give another dose of naloxone if there is no response after 2–3 minutes and continue to watch them.
Nasal Spray Intranasal
HOW TO GIVE NASAL SPRAY INTRANASAL:
- Call 911.
- Connect the tube and atomizer by removing the yellow caps on the plastic tube and screwing on the white cone.
- Connect the vial by removing the red cap from the vial. Then gently screw the vial into the bottom of the tube.
- Administer the naloxone by spraying half the vial up each nostril by pushing the vial up through the tube.
If the person is not breathing…
- Use personal protective equipment (i.e., gloves, breath barrier device) if you have them available.
- Roll the person onto their back.
- Seal your mouth over theirs and breathe in 1 breath every 5 seconds.
- Their chest should rise, not their stomach.
- If there is no response after 2–3 minutes, give the person another dose of naloxone and continue to watch them.
Auto-Injector (EVZIO)
HOW TO GIVE AUTO-INJECTOR (EVZIO):
- Call 911.
- Pull EVZIO from the outer case.
Note: DO NOT remove the red safety guard until you are ready to use EVZIO. If you are not ready to use EVZIO, put it back in the case for later.
- Pull off the red safety guard.
- To reduce the chance of accidental injection, do not touch the black base of the auto-injector, which is where the needle comes out. If an accidental injection occurs, get medical help right away (Note: The red safety guard is meant to fit tightly. Pull firmly to remove it. Do not replace the red safety guard after it is removed).
- Administer EVZIO auto-injector by placing the black end of EVZIO against the outer thigh, through clothing, if needed. Press firmly and hold in place for 5 seconds. If you give EVZIO to an infant less than one-year old, pinch the middle of the outer thigh before you give EVZIO and continue to pinch as you administer (Note: EVZIO will click and make a hissing sound after it is pressed down. This is normal).
If the person is not breathing…
- Use personal protective equipment (i.e., gloves, breath barrier device) if you have them available.
- Roll the person onto their back.
- Seal your mouth over theirs and breathe in 1 breath every 5 seconds.
- Their chest should rise, not their stomach.
- If the person does not respond after 2-3 minutes, give another dose.