Narcan FAQ
What is Narcan and how does it work?
Narcan is a medicine that rapidly reverses the effects of a life-threatening opioid emergency from many prescription pain medications as well as street drugs like heroin and fentanyl.
Narcan competes with opioids to bind to certain receptors in the brain, reversing the signs of overdose. During an opioid emergency, it can only take 4 minutes for brain damage to occur after someone stops breathing, and death can result in another 4-6 minutes. Narcan can reverse the effects of an opioid emergency by restoring breathing while waiting for emergency personnel to arrive. More information on how Narcan works.
Why should I carry Narcan?
If you or a loved one is currently living with an opioid use disorder, it's recommended that you carry Narcan at all times and especially when you plan to use drugs . Parents with teenagers are encouraged to keep naloxone in their homes. Parents can also give it to their teens – and make sure to educate them on how to use Narcan .
Narcan can be administered by anyone. Consider carrying Narcan with you even if you don't know someone who has an opioid use disorder. You never know when you'll encounter someone in need of this life-saving medication.
Because you can't use Narcan on yourself, let others know you have it in case you experience an opioid overdose.
What happens if you give Narcan to someone not having an opioid related overdose??
Narcan has no effect on someone who is not having an opioid related overdose and will not cause harm.
Can Narcan be used on children?
Narcan is safe for all ages.
Does Narcan have side effects?
Narcan may cause slight sweating, shaking or nausea.
What drugs ARE affected by Narcan?
Narcan ONLY works on opioids like heroin, cocaine, oxycodone (Oxy), methadone and morphine. Full list of opioids effected by Narcan.
What drugs are NOT affected by Narcan?
Narcan will not work with other drugs such as benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax and Valium), bath salts, cocaine, methamphetamine or alcohol.
What does a drug overdose Look Like?
Signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose emergency:
- Loss of consciousness
- Unresponsive to outside stimulus
- Awake, but unable to talk
- Breathing is very slow and shallow, erratic, or has stopped
- For lighter skinned people, the skin tone turns bluish purple, for darker skinned people, it turns grayish or ashen.
- Choking sounds, or a snore-like gurgling noise (sometimes called the “death rattle”)
- Vomiting
- Body is very limp
- Face is very pale or clammy
- Fingernails and lips turn blue or purplish black
- Pulse (heartbeat) is slow, erratic, or not there at all
What are my legal responsibilities if I provide help to someone having an overdose?
The Good Samaritan Law protects overdose victims, and those who call 9-1-1, from charge, prosecution, and conviction for possession or use of controlled substances. It also states:
Any person who, in good faith, attempts to render emergency care by administering naloxone or any other opioid antagonist, as defined in section 19B of chapter 94C, to a person reasonably believed to be experiencing an opiate-related overdose, shall not be liable for acts or omissions resulting from the attempt to render this emergency care; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to acts of gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct (Chapter 52 of the Acts of 2016 Section 12FF).
What should I do if I think someone is having a drug overdose? Always call 911-a drug overdose requires emergency medical attention. Follow the steps in the links below.
Video on how recognize overdose and how to use Narcan.
How to respond to a drug overdose.