Medication Treatment

Naloxone (Narcan): Where to Get It and How to Use It

What Is Narcan, and How Do You Use It in an Overdose?

Narcan is a brand of naloxone nasal spray, a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose, and the FDA approved it for sale without a prescription on March 29, 2023. If someone won't wake up or is barely breathing, spray one dose in their nose, call 911, give another dose every 2 to 3 minutes if they don't wake, and stay with them. Most states have Good Samaritan laws that protect people who call for help. Naloxone buys time; medication treatment is what lowers the risk of the next overdose.

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Narcan is the best-known brand of naloxone, a medicine that reverses an opioid overdose. If you or someone close to you uses opioids, including pain pills, heroin or anything that might contain fentanyl, keeping naloxone at home and knowing the steps below is one of the most useful things you can do. It takes about a minute to learn.

What Narcan Is and What It Does

Naloxone is an opioid antagonist. NIDA explains that it attaches to the same receptors in the brain that opioids use, then reverses and blocks their effects. The FDA calls it the standard treatment for opioid overdose. When an overdose slows or stops someone’s breathing, the CDC says naloxone can restore normal breathing within 2 to 3 minutes if it’s given in time.

It comes in two forms approved by the FDA: a prepackaged nasal spray (generic naloxone, Narcan and Kloxxado) and an injection. Most families and friends use the nasal spray because there’s nothing to assemble. SAMHSA’s Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit, updated in July 2025, also covers nalmefene, a second overdose reversal medicine.

A few facts matter in an emergency:

  • It only works on opioids. NIDA says naloxone won’t reverse an overdose from cocaine or methamphetamine alone. But street drugs are often mixed with fentanyl, and the CDC says naloxone won’t harm someone who isn’t on opioids. If you think it’s an overdose, use it.
  • It wears off. NIDA says naloxone works for 30 to 90 minutes, and many opioids last longer. The overdose can come back, which is why you stay.
  • Strong opioids may need more than one dose. The label says it’s safe to keep giving doses.

Where to Get Narcan Without a Prescription

On March 29, 2023, the FDA approved Narcan 4 mg nasal spray for sale over the counter. You can now buy it at drug stores, grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations and online, with no prescription and no questions. The CDC says naloxone is available over the counter in all 50 states.

You may not need to pay for it at all. Many state health departments and local programs give naloxone away. Pharmacies can often bill your insurance, and several states say Medicaid covers it. The state-by-state section below shows where free kits come from in your state.

Signs of an Opioid Overdose

The CDC lists these signs:

  • The person is unconscious or you can’t wake them.
  • Breathing is slow or shallow, or they make choking sounds or a gurgling or snoring noise while you can’t wake them.
  • Their skin is discolored, especially the lips or nails.
  • Their pupils are small, “pinpoint” and don’t react to light.

You don’t need to be sure. If someone who may have used opioids won’t wake up or is barely breathing, treat it as an overdose.

How to Respond to an Overdose, Step by Step

These steps follow the directions printed on the Narcan nasal spray package and the CDC’s overdose response guidance. The order matters.

  1. Check. Call their name and shake them gently. Look for the signs above: they won’t wake up, they’re very sleepy, or they aren’t breathing well.
  2. Give one dose. Hold the device with your thumb on the bottom of the plunger. Put the nozzle in either nostril and press the plunger firmly. Each device sprays once. Don’t test it first.
  3. Call 911 right after the first dose. If someone else is there, have them call while you give the spray.
  4. Watch and give again. Wait 2 to 3 minutes. If the person doesn’t wake up, give another dose with a new device, and keep going every 2 to 3 minutes until they wake. The label says it is safe to keep giving doses, and you may need every dose in the pack.
  5. Keep them breathing and on their side. The CDC says to try to keep the person awake and breathing, and to lay them on their side so they don’t choke.
  6. Stay until help arrives, even if they wake up. Give another dose if they become very sleepy again.

After Naloxone: Why You Stay

Naloxone can wear off before the opioid does. The CDC says to stay with the person until emergency help arrives, or for at least four hours.

Waking up can be rough. The label warns that people may shake, sweat, feel sick or feel angry. NIDA says these withdrawal effects are usually not life-threatening. Talk calmly, tell them what happened and that help is coming. Don’t let them use more to ease withdrawal, which could cause another overdose once the naloxone wears off.

Good Samaritan Laws: Calling 911 Without Fear of Arrest

Fear of the police keeps some people from calling 911. The CDC says most states have laws that may protect the person who called for help, and the person who overdosed, from some criminal penalties. These are usually called Good Samaritan or 911 amnesty laws.

The protection is narrower than many people think. It usually covers possession of small amounts of drugs and paraphernalia found because someone called for help. It doesn’t cover selling drugs, and some states require you to stay at the scene, give your name or cooperate. In some states the law, as the state describes it, protects only the person who calls, not the person who overdosed. Those are marked “Caller” below.

State Who it protects Notable conditions Law
Alaska Caller, including for your own overdose Stay until help arrives and cooperate AS 11.71.311
Arizona Caller and person overdosing Possession and paraphernalia only A.R.S. § 13-3423
Arkansas Caller and person overdosing Separate immunity for giving naloxone Joshua Ashley-Pauley Act
California Caller and person overdosing Not selling, giving away or DUI Health & Safety Code § 11376.5
Colorado Caller and person overdosing Stay and cooperate; limits by drug amount C.R.S. § 18-1-711
Connecticut Caller and person overdosing Possession and paraphernalia Gen. Stat. 21a-267(d), 21a-279(d)
Delaware Caller and person overdosing Not Class A, B or C felonies 16 Del. C. § 4769
District of Columbia Caller, including for your own overdose Also covers underage alcohol D.C. Code § 7-403
Florida Caller, including for your own overdose Also protects probation and parole Fla. Stat. 893.21
Georgia Caller, including for your own overdose Small amounts only O.C.G.A. 16-13-5
Hawaii Caller and person overdosing Drug or alcohol overdose HRS § 329-43.6
Idaho Caller and person overdosing Possession, being under the influence, paraphernalia Idaho Code § 37-2739C
Illinois Caller and person overdosing Small amounts only 720 ILCS 570/414
Iowa Caller and person overdosing First caller must stay; usable once per person Iowa Code 124.418
Kentucky Caller, including for your own overdose Stay until help arrives KRS 218A.133
Louisiana Caller and person overdosing Also shields from civil forfeiture La. R.S. 14:403.10
Maine Caller, helpers and person overdosing Not violent crimes, trafficking or OUI 17-A M.R.S. § 1111-B
Maryland Caller and person overdosing Includes alcohol emergencies Criminal Procedure § 1-210
Massachusetts Caller, including for your own overdose Also protects probation and parole M.G.L. c. 94C, § 34A
Michigan Caller, including for your own overdose Personal-use amounts MCL 333.7403(3)
Minnesota Caller and person overdosing Give your name, stay and cooperate Minn. Stat. 604A.05
Missouri Caller, including for your own overdose Includes alcohol overdose RSMo 195.205
Montana Caller and person overdosing Also protects probation and parole MCA 50-32-609
Nebraska Caller and person overdosing Stay and cooperate Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-472
Nevada Caller Drug or alcohol overdose NRS 453C.150
New Hampshire Caller, including for your own overdose Possession RSA 318-B:28-b
New Jersey Caller and person overdosing Also protects probation and parole N.J.S.A. 2C:35-30, 2C:35-31
New Mexico Caller and person overdosing Possession Laws 2007, SB 200
New York Caller and person overdosing Any age; not selling Penal Law § 220.78
North Carolina Caller and person overdosing Small amounts Gen. Stat. 90-96.2
North Dakota Caller and person overdosing Stay and cooperate N.D.C.C. 19-03.1-23.4
Ohio Caller and person overdosing Screening within 30 days; usable twice Rev. Code 2925.11(B)(2)
Oklahoma Caller Give your name, stay and cooperate 63 O.S. § 2-413.1
Oregon Caller and person overdosing Also protects probation and parole ORS 475.898
Pennsylvania Caller and person overdosing Give name and location, stay 35 P.S. § 780-113.7
Rhode Island Caller and person overdosing Also bail, probation and parole R.I. Gen. Laws 21-28.9-4
South Carolina Caller and person overdosing Give your name and cooperate S.C. Code 44-53-1910 to 1960
South Dakota Caller Stay and cooperate SDCL 34-20A-109 to 113
Tennessee Caller and person overdosing Training no longer required Tennessee Good Samaritan law
Texas First caller and person overdosing A defense, not immunity; prior conviction or use in past 18 months bars it Health & Safety Code 481.115(g)
Utah Caller and person overdosing A defense when conditions are met Utah Code 76-18-207(10)
Vermont Caller and person overdosing Includes underage drinking 18 V.S.A. 4254
Virginia Caller and person overdosing Conditions apply Va. Code 18.2-251.03
Washington Caller and person overdosing Possession RCW 69.50.315
West Virginia Caller Stay, identify yourself, cooperate W. Va. Code 16-47-4
Wisconsin Caller Possession and paraphernalia Wis. Stat. 961.443
Wyoming Caller and person overdosing Stay and cooperate; twice in 12 months Wyo. Stat. 35-7-1064

The sources list at the end of this page links each official statute. Laws change, and the details decide cases, so read your state’s text if you’re worried. Whatever the law says, call 911. A life is worth more than a possession charge.

Free Naloxone and Standing Orders in Your State

A standing order is a prescription written by a state health official that covers the public, so a pharmacist can hand you naloxone without your own doctor’s prescription. Since Narcan went over the counter, you don’t need one to buy the 4 mg spray, but standing orders still matter for other naloxone products, for insurance billing and for community groups that give kits away.

These states have a state naloxone standing order, according to their health departments: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. In Colorado and Minnesota the order is issued to eligible organizations.

Free kits are easier to find than most people expect. A few examples from state health departments:

  • By mail: Pennsylvania residents can get free naloxone by mail for personal use. Alabama mails a free kit after a short online training, and Oklahoma, New Mexico and Wisconsin also offer naloxone by mail.
  • At the pharmacy: In New Jersey, anyone 14 or older can get naloxone anonymously and at no cost at participating pharmacies through Naloxone365. New York’s N-CAP program lowers or removes your copay if you have prescription coverage.
  • Through local programs: Ohio’s Project DAWN sites give free naloxone and training to anyone. Florida’s iSaveFL program and Kentucky’s Find Naloxone Now map list free sites. Delaware runs 24/7 vending machines.
  • With Medicaid: Kentucky Medicaid covers up to two kits every 30 days, and TennCare members in Tennessee can get up to two naloxone products a month for no more than $5.

Your state page has the details and links for where you live.

Naloxone Is a Bridge to Treatment

Naloxone reverses one overdose. It doesn’t treat opioid use disorder. NIDA says treatment with methadone, buprenorphine or naltrexone is the standard of care for opioid use disorder, and these medicines are what lower the risk over time.

If someone you love just survived an overdose, that moment can open a door. SAMHSA’s National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) is free, confidential and open 24/7. You can also search the treatment finder for a methadone clinic or a buprenorphine (Suboxone) prescriber, or read how medication for opioid use disorder works. If you’re supporting someone, the guide to helping someone with an addiction covers what to say and how to look after yourself. To see how coverage works, try the payment checker.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Naloxone Hurt Someone Who Isn't Overdosing on Opioids?

No. The CDC says naloxone won't harm someone who is overdosing on drugs other than opioids, so it is best to use it whenever you think someone is overdosing. It only reverses opioids, so it won't undo an overdose from cocaine or methamphetamine alone, NIDA says. Call 911 either way.

How Long Does Naloxone Last?

NIDA says naloxone works for only 30 to 90 minutes, and many opioids stay in the body longer, so the overdose can come back. That is why the label says to stay until the ambulance arrives and give another dose if the person becomes very sleepy again.

Will the Person Be Angry or Sick When They Wake Up?

They may be. The Narcan label warns that some people have shaking, sweating, nausea or feel angry when they wake up. NIDA lists withdrawal effects such as headache, fast heart rate, sweating, nausea, vomiting and tremors, and says they are usually not life-threatening. Stay calm, keep them company and wait for help.

Do I Need Training to Use Narcan?

The nasal spray comes with step-by-step directions on the package, and the FDA approved it for use by the public without a prescription. Many state programs offer short free trainings, and some, such as Alabama's, mail a kit after an online training. Read the directions before you need them.

Where Should I Keep Naloxone?

The Narcan label says to store it at room temperature or in the refrigerator, between 36°F and 77°F, not to freeze it, to avoid heat above 104°F and to protect it from light. Keep it where people in your home know to find it, and carry a kit if you or someone you spend time with uses opioids.

Does Insurance Pay for Naloxone?

Often, yes. Several state health departments say Medicaid or private insurance covers it at the pharmacy. Massachusetts says pharmacies can bill MassHealth, Washington says Apple Health covers it, and Kentucky Medicaid covers up to two kits every 30 days. Many states also give naloxone away free; see your state page.

More on Medication Treatment

This guide explains treatment options in plain language from official sources. It isn't medical advice; a clinician can assess what care fits your situation.

Sources

  1. FDA: FDA Approves First Over-the-Counter Naloxone Nasal Spray (March 29, 2023)
  2. Narcan nasal spray 4 mg, OTC Drug Facts label (DailyMed, National Library of Medicine)
  3. CDC: If You Think Someone Is Overdosing
  4. CDC: Lifesaving Naloxone
  5. NIDA: Naloxone DrugFacts
  6. SAMHSA: Overdose Prevention and Response Toolkit (July 2025)
  7. NIDA: Treatment
  8. Alaska: Good Samaritan law (AS 11.71.311)
  9. Arizona: Good Samaritan law (A.R.S. § 13-3423)
  10. Arkansas: Good Samaritan law (Joshua Ashley-Pauley Act)
  11. California: Good Samaritan law (Cal. Health & Safety Code § 11376.5)
  12. Colorado: Good Samaritan law (C.R.S. § 18-1-711)
  13. Connecticut: Good Samaritan law (Conn. Gen. Stat. 21a-267(d) and 21a-279(d))
  14. Delaware: Good Samaritan law (16 Del. C. § 4769)
  15. District of Columbia: Good Samaritan law (D.C. Code § 7-403)
  16. Florida: Good Samaritan law (Fla. Stat. 893.21)
  17. Georgia: Good Samaritan law (O.C.G.A. 16-13-5 (Georgia 9-1-1 Medical Amnesty Law, HB 965, 2014))
  18. Hawaii: Good Samaritan law (HRS § 329-43.6)
  19. Idaho: Good Samaritan law (Idaho Code § 37-2739C)
  20. Illinois: Good Samaritan law (720 ILCS 570/414)
  21. Iowa: Good Samaritan law (Iowa Code 124.418)
  22. Kentucky: Good Samaritan law (KRS 218A.133)
  23. Louisiana: Good Samaritan law (La. R.S. 14:403.10)
  24. Maine: Good Samaritan law (17-A M.R.S. § 1111-B)
  25. Maryland: Good Samaritan law (Md. Code, Criminal Procedure § 1-210)
  26. Massachusetts: Good Samaritan law (M.G.L. c. 94C, § 34A)
  27. Michigan: Good Samaritan law (MCL 333.7403(3))
  28. Minnesota: Good Samaritan law (Minn. Stat. 604A.05)
  29. Missouri: Good Samaritan law (RSMo 195.205)
  30. Montana: Good Samaritan law (MCA 50-32-609)
  31. Nebraska: Good Samaritan law (Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-472)
  32. Nevada: Good Samaritan law (NRS 453C.150)
  33. New Hampshire: Good Samaritan law (RSA 318-B:28-b)
  34. New Jersey: Good Samaritan law (N.J.S.A. 2C:35-30 and 2C:35-31 (Overdose Prevention Act, P.L.2013, c.46))
  35. New Mexico: Good Samaritan law (Laws 2007, Senate Bill 200)
  36. New York: Good Samaritan law (N.Y. Penal Law § 220.78)
  37. North Carolina: Good Samaritan law (N.C. Gen. Stat. 90-96.2)
  38. North Dakota: Good Samaritan law (N.D.C.C. 19-03.1-23.4)
  39. Ohio: Good Samaritan law (Ohio Rev. Code 2925.11(B)(2))
  40. Oklahoma: Good Samaritan law (63 O.S. § 2-413.1)
  41. Oregon: Good Samaritan law (ORS 475.898)
  42. Pennsylvania: Good Samaritan law (35 P.S. § 780-113.7 (Act 64 of 1972, section 13.7))
  43. Rhode Island: Good Samaritan law (R.I. Gen. Laws 21-28.9-4 (Good Samaritan Overdose Prevention Act of 2016))
  44. South Carolina: Good Samaritan law (S.C. Code 44-53-1910 to 44-53-1960 (Drug or Alcohol-Related Overdose Medical Treatment))
  45. South Dakota: Good Samaritan law (SDCL 34-20A-109 to 34-20A-113)
  46. Tennessee: Good Samaritan law
  47. Texas: Good Samaritan law (Tex. Health & Safety Code 481.115(g) and parallel subsections in 481.1151-481.125 (H.B. 1694, 2021))
  48. Utah: Good Samaritan law (Utah Code 76-18-207(10) (possession) and 76-18-303(2) (paraphernalia))
  49. Vermont: Good Samaritan law (18 V.S.A. 4254)
  50. Virginia: Good Samaritan law (Va. Code 18.2-251.03)
  51. Washington: Good Samaritan law (RCW 69.50.315)
  52. West Virginia: Good Samaritan law (W. Va. Code 16-47-4 (Alcohol and Drug Overdose Prevention and Clemency Act))
  53. Wisconsin: Good Samaritan law (Wis. Stat. 961.443)
  54. Wyoming: Good Samaritan law (Wyo. Stat. 35-7-1064)
  55. Alabama: naloxone access (state health department)
  56. Colorado: naloxone access (state health department)
  57. Delaware: naloxone access (state health department)
  58. Florida: naloxone access (state health department)
  59. Kentucky: naloxone access (state health department)
  60. Massachusetts: naloxone access (state health department)
  61. Minnesota: naloxone access (state health department)
  62. New Jersey: naloxone access (state health department)
  63. New Mexico: naloxone access (state health department)
  64. New York: naloxone access (state health department)
  65. Ohio: naloxone access (state health department)
  66. Oklahoma: naloxone access (state health department)
  67. Pennsylvania: naloxone access (state health department)
  68. Tennessee: naloxone access (state health department)
  69. Washington: naloxone access (state health department)
  70. Wisconsin: naloxone access (state health department)
  71. Alaska: naloxone access (state health department)
  72. Arizona: naloxone access (state health department)
  73. California: naloxone access (state health department)
  74. Georgia: naloxone access (state health department)
  75. Illinois: naloxone access (state health department)
  76. Indiana: naloxone access (state health department)
  77. Louisiana: naloxone access (state health department)
  78. Maryland: naloxone access (state health department)
  79. Michigan: naloxone access (state health department)
  80. Mississippi: naloxone access (state health department)
  81. Missouri: naloxone access (state health department)
  82. Montana: naloxone access (state health department)
  83. Nebraska: naloxone access (state health department)
  84. New Hampshire: naloxone access (state health department)
  85. North Carolina: naloxone access (state health department)
  86. South Dakota: naloxone access (state health department)
  87. Texas: naloxone access (state health department)
  88. Utah: naloxone access (state health department)
  89. Vermont: naloxone access (state health department)
  90. Virginia: naloxone access (state health department)
  91. West Virginia: naloxone access (state health department)

Rehab Help is an independent guide, not a treatment provider. Phone numbers on this site are the facilities' and helplines' own numbers, never tracking lines. If someone is in danger right now, call 911.