Content Written By:
Andrew McKenna – JD
Deputy Director of NCADD Westchester
Author of Sheer Madness

Updated: 03/17/2025

The United States is seeing a steady decline in opioid overdoses, in part due to the efforts of Naloxone awareness campaigns, health professionals, first responders, harm reduction centers, police, and countless others. Below is an up-to-date informational guide with data, statistics, videos, PDFs, a Narcan locator map, and much more.

For ease of use, utilize our menu links to jump to specific topics. You can also click the “Find Narcan” button to locate Narcan in your area. Narcan Saves Lives

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Overdose Data and Statistics

Approximately 100,000 deaths are still occurring each year. Street drug cocktails, including fentanyl, methamphetamines, xylazine, and other synthetic chemicals, are more dangerous than ever.

Products – Vital Statistics Rapid Release – Provisional Drug Overdose Data

What you need to know about Narcan

Narcan is the brand name of a medication called naloxone. It quickly reverses the life-threatening effects of an opioid overdose by restoring an individual’s normal respiratory function (breathing).

Who should get trained and carry Narcan?

Short answer? Everyone.

It’s highly recommended that active opioid users, their family members or caregivers should seek Narcan training either in-person or on-line. Please note, that administering Narcan is not difficult to do, and Narcan kits come with instructions. However, proper Narcan training will help to give you confidence if the time comes when you must use it. Being comfortable with the process can save time and lives. Narcan Saves Lives

Narcan is available without a prescription – Where to find Narcan

All fifty states allow individuals to buy Narcan at the pharmacy without a prescription. Many state and local governments or non-profit organizations offer Narcan for free, following a short training session.

To find Narcan kits in your area see: National Community Based NARCAN Finder Google My Maps

The Narcan Finder from the National Harm Reduction

The Narcan Finder from the National Harm Reduction site is intended for people who use drugs to access Narcan in their community. The Narcan Finder provides a map to help target Narcan and other harm reduction resources in your local community.

You can access this map at: Harm Reduction Resources Near You | National Harm Reduction Coalition

Instructions

How does Narcan work?

Because Narcan is an opioid antagonist, if given in time, it can reverse the overdose by wiping clean the brain’s opioid receptors and temporarily block opioids from entering our systems. This allows the respiratory function to start pumping oxygen back into our systems.

Our brains have what are known as opioid receptors. When a person uses opioids such as fentanyl, heroin, Oxycontin, hydrocodone, or other drugs mixed with these opioids, they attach to the opioid receptors resulting in a “high”. The opioids slow down our respiratory system to dangerous levels, sometimes to such a degree that our hearts stop beating. This is a fatal overdose.

To learn more, click the following link: How does Narcan work in an overdose?

Narcan is a safe medicine, is not addictive, and will not hurt someone who does not have opioids in their system.
Most people usually wake up within 1 to 3 minutes of receiving Narcan. However, Narcan only reverses an opioid (narcotic) overdose and will not reverse overdoses from other drugs like cocaine or methamphetamine.

Here is what you should do if you suspect an overdose

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) provides the following guidance if you suspect an opioid overdose:

Call 911 immediately.
Give Narcan as quickly as possible, if available. Do not wait for emergency workers to arrive before giving Narcan.
Try to keep the person awake and breathing.
Lay the person on their side to prevent them from choking.
Stay with the person until emergency workers arrive.
Narcan is a temporary treatment. More than one dose might be needed under some circumstances, especially if an overdose event involves illicitly manufactured fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances.
Watch the person closely.
If the person does not respond by waking up, to voice or touch, or breathing normally another dose may be given. Narcan Nasal Spray may be dosed every 2 to 3 minutes, if available.
Repeat Steps 2 through 6 using a new Narcan Nasal Spray to give another dose in the other nostril.
If additional Narcan Nasal Sprays are available, Steps 2 through 6 may be repeated every 2 to 3 minutes until the person responds or emergency medical help is received.

Download PDF Version of How to use Narcan Nasal Spray for an opioid overdose

Video Instructions For Administering Narcan

Here are Videos from resources we trust for how you can administer Narcan

Additional facts to be aware of about Narcan

More than one dose of Narcan may be required when stronger opioids like fentanyl are involved. It is not unusual for people during an overdose to need 5 or more doses of Narcan to restore their breathing and bring them back to consciousness. The amount of Narcan required will vary from person to person. In many cases one dose will be enough, but don’t count on it. Also, it is important to note that the reversal only lasts between 30 and 90 minutes.

Also, however many doses are given, it may only reverse the overdose for so long. I have spoken to several first responders, including EMT and police officers, who have told me that they were able to save a person from overdose on the scene, but have them again lose consciousness before reaching the hospital, sometimes just minutes away.

Therefore, it is critical that you first call 911 if you suspect someone has overdosed, before doing anything else. Make sure medical professionals are on their way before administering the Narcan. More than one person has told me they were feeling so panicked that they administered the Narcan first, and forgot to call 911 after.

Remember, Narcan won’t harm someone if they’re overdosing on drugs other than opioids, so it’s always best to use it if you think someone is overdosing.

If you give someone Narcan, stay with them until emergency help arrives—you will not get in trouble with the police.

Narcan Saves Lives!

Good Samaritan Laws

Good Samaritan laws are in place in most states to protect those who are overdosing and anyone assisting them in an emergency from criminal charges.

To continue reading this story, please click on this link:

drugrehabus.org/narcan

Wyoming Social Resources Information

Narcan Saves Lives

Narcan (naloxone) Saves Lives – Narcan Locator