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How to get Narcan — and use it to save a life

Published June 14, 2026 · The Empower Brief

Naloxone — sold under brand names like Narcan — is a safe medication that can reverse an opioid overdose in minutes. It has no potential for misuse, it won't hurt someone who doesn't have opioids in their system, and today it's easier to get than ever. If you love someone in recovery, work in a community setting, or simply want to be ready, keeping naloxone on hand is one of the most powerful things you can do.

It's now over the counter — and free in every state

Naloxone nasal spray became available over the counter (no prescription) in 2023, and you can now buy it at most major pharmacy chains — CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and Walmart — as well as many grocery stores and online. A two-dose kit typically costs about $45–$65, and most insurance plans, including Medicare Part D and every state Medicaid program, cover it with little or no copay.

Cost doesn't have to be a barrier. Free naloxone is available in all 50 states. All states have "standing order" or access laws that let pharmacists dispense it without a patient-specific prescription — and in many states, to a person's family or friends, not just the person at risk. To find free naloxone near you, call SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357, or ask your local health department about community distribution programs, mail-order options, and vending machines.

How to recognize an opioid overdose

Signs of an opioid overdose can include:

When in doubt, treat it as an overdose. Naloxone will not harm someone who isn't overdosing on opioids.

How to use nasal-spray naloxone

  1. Call 911 immediately. Naloxone is lifesaving, but the person still needs emergency care.
  2. Give the naloxone. Peel open the package, tilt the person's head back, insert the nozzle into one nostril, and press the plunger firmly to give the full dose.
  3. Wait 2–3 minutes. If there's no response, give a second dose in the other nostril. Repeat with additional doses if you have them and breathing hasn't returned.
  4. Support their breathing and, if you're trained, give rescue breaths.
  5. Stay with them. Naloxone wears off in 30–90 minutes, and the overdose can return, so the person must be monitored until help arrives. Place them on their side (the "recovery position") if you must step away.

Good Samaritan protections: Most states have laws that protect people who call for help during an overdose. Calling 911 is always the right thing to do. To find treatment or free naloxone, call SAMHSA at 1-800-662-4357, or call/text 988 for crisis support.

At Empower Next Project, overdose prevention is part of our Empower Next Breath program. Because fentanyl now turns up in counterfeit pills and even stimulants, naloxone is a tool for whole communities — not just for people who use opioids.

Sources

  1. CDC, "Lifesaving Naloxone" (Stop Overdose). cdc.gov/stop-overdose/caring/naloxone.html
  2. SAMHSA, "Opioid Overdose Reversal Medications (OORM)." samhsa.gov
  3. SAMHSA, "Understanding Naloxone Use & Access." samhsa.gov/resource/sptac/understanding-naloxone-use-access
  4. SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357). samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

This article is educational and is not a substitute for professional medical training or advice. In an emergency, always call 911. Follow the instructions included with your specific naloxone product.