Frequently Asked Questions

Naloxone is a medication designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. It can very quickly restore normal respiration to a person whose breathing has slowed or stopped because of an overdose. Narcan is the brand name of the nasal spray form of naloxone.

• People using heroin or misusing other opioids
• People on high doses of opioid pills
• People mixing opioids with sedatives such as Xanax or Klonopin
• People who have previously overdosed
• People with underlying respiratory problems - sleep apnea and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
• People whose tolerance is much lower because they didn't use for a period of time, for example because they were in treatment or in jail.

While CPR training may be beneficial to your staff and organization, it is not required for staff or trainers to be CPR certified.

Oregon's Good Samaritan law protects the caller and the person who has overdosed from being arrested or prosecuted for drug-related charges or parole/probation violations based on information provided to emergency providers. Read the Oregon Good Samaritan Law (PDF).

Kloxxado contains 8 milligram of naloxone per spray, whereas Narcan contains 4 milligram of naloxone per spray. Both products come with two devices per box. This could be an important consideration because 34% of opioid overdose reversals involved at least 2 doses of naloxone.

• Having Narcan does not encourage people to misuse opioids. States that have laws making Narcan easier to get haven't seen more people misusing opioids.
• Access to Narcan lowers the opioid overdose death rate. Laws making Narcan more accessible have led to fewer people dying of opioid overdoses.
• Narcan is safe. Narcan doesn't usually cause serious side effects. It's unlikely that someone experiencing an opioid overdose will have a negative reaction to Narcan.
• Even if there are no opioids in your system, it isn't harmful. Narcan only reverses the effects of opioids, but it's safe to receive even if you don't have opioids in your system. If you see someone having an overdose and you don't know what caused it, it's safe to administer Narcan. If it turns out opioids were involved, Narcan could save their life.
• When Narcan is easy to get, more people know how to prevent opioid overdose deaths. Just educating someone about Narcan can lower the risk of opioid overdose. And research shows that when Narcan is prescribed along with prescription opioids, overdose risks are lower even if the Narcan prescription isn't filled.

• At this time, YCPH is not distributing Narcan to the general public.
• If you are taking prescription opioids, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a naloxone prescription. Oregon Health Plan (OHP) and most insurers provide coverage for Narcan.
• If you are in treatment for substance use, ask your counselor for help getting Narcan. You might get Narcan at no cost from a local program.
• If you want to have Narcan on hand for someone else, ask your pharmacist for a prescription, health insurance usually will not cover this.
• If you are actively using opioids and involved with a syringe exchange or other harm-reduction services, you can get Narcan at no cost.
• See a list of Oregon pharmacies confirmed to be distributing Naloxone (PDF).

Follow the manufacturer's instructions for storing naloxone. If instructions are not available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends keeping naloxone in the original box or storage container, protected from light, and stored at room temperature (59 to 77°F or 15 to 25°C) until ready for use.

Research shows that these are the best locations for your Narcan doses:

• Near the AED kit
• Near the restroom(s)
• In the same location as the first-aid equipment/kit
• By the fire extinguisher