1

)Naloxone (Narcan

Naloxone: Stopping Overdose

A My lifeline Fact Sheet

Naloxone the opioid

overdose antidote

Narcan is really a valuable
thing for injecting drug
users. My family kept it in
the cabinet above our
fridge. Two years ago, my
younger brother used it to
save me from certain
death.
-Mark P
Boston, Massachusetts

Naloxone (Narcan) is an easy-to-use, lifesaving antidote to

overdose from heroin or prescription opioids. It reverses the
effects of a heroin or prescription opioid overdose.
Naloxone Saves Lives
Heroin and opiate overdose deaths are preventable.
Thousands of lives have been saved as a direct result of
trained laypersons using Naloxone on an overdosing
individual. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, which means
that it works by blocking the brain cell receptors that are
activated by opioids like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and
heroin in order to restore the body to normal functioning.
At least 188 community-based overdose prevention
programs across the country now distribute naloxone. As of
2010, those programs had provided training and naloxone
to over 50,000 people, resulting in over 10,000 overdose
reversals.
Naloxone is safe
Narcan causes a person using opioids to enter an almost
immediate withdrawal. The side effects of administration of
naloxone are therefore opioid withdrawal symptoms. It is
important to note that Narcan has no effect on non-opiod
users and has no abuse potential.

So what is
Naloxone?
A lifesaver.

In Massachusetts anyone can be trained to administer

Naloxone
Naloxone has been used by paramedics in ambulances
and by emergency room clinicians for decades. While not a
controlled substance, naloxone is what is known as a
scheduled drug and therefore does require a prescription.
Friends, family, first responders- all laypeople- can be
taught to recognize an overdose and administer naloxone
during an overdose emergency. Massachusetts has a law
that allows for all persons to use this lifesaving drug.
Naloxone Administration is only ONE step in OD Response

The effect of an opioid may last longer than the counter

effect of naloxone and the person can go back into a state
of life-threatening overdose in a short period of time.
Therefore, it is absolutely essential that the overdosed
patient be quickly taken for emergency medical care.