Overdose Prevention
How Naloxone Saves Lives: A Practical Guide for Every Household
Naloxone reverses opioid overdose within minutes and is safe for anyone to carry. Here is how to obtain it, store it, and use it.
What naloxone is
Naloxone is a medication that reverses opioid overdose by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and displacing opioids like heroin, oxycodone, and fentanyl. It works within two to five minutes. It has no effect on someone who has not taken opioids and cannot be used to get high. It is safe for adults, children, pregnant people, and pets.
Naloxone is available as a nasal spray (commonly sold as Narcan or RiVive) and as an injection. The nasal spray is easier for untrained bystanders and is what community programs typically distribute.
How to recognize an opioid overdose
Opioid overdose has a specific pattern. The person is unresponsive—they will not wake up when you shout their name or shake them firmly. Their breathing is slow, shallow, or has stopped altogether. Their lips, fingernails, or skin may look bluish or gray. Their pupils are pinpoint-small.
If you are not sure whether it is an opioid overdose, give naloxone anyway. It cannot hurt if opioids are not present, and waiting to be certain wastes the minutes that matter most.
Step-by-step: administering naloxone
1. Call 911. Say the person is not breathing. Stay on the line. 2. Lay the person on their back. Tilt their head back slightly. 3. Peel open the naloxone package. Hold the nasal spray with your thumb on the plunger and two fingers on the nozzle. 4. Insert the tip of the nozzle into one nostril until your fingers touch the bottom of the person's nose. 5. Press the plunger firmly. The full dose is delivered in one push. 6. Turn the person onto their side (recovery position) to prevent choking if they vomit. 7. If there is no response after two to three minutes, give a second dose in the other nostril. 8. Wait with the person until emergency responders arrive.
After administering: what to do next
Naloxone wears off after 30 to 90 minutes. If the person took a long-acting or high-potency opioid, they may go back into overdose after the naloxone leaves their system. This is why calling 911 is essential even if the person wakes up and feels fine.
Most people are groggy or confused when they come around. Some are agitated because naloxone triggers immediate withdrawal. Stay calm and explain what happened. Do not leave them alone.
Where to get naloxone in Colorado and beyond
Colorado's standing order allows any pharmacy to dispense naloxone without a prescription. Most large chains and independent pharmacies stock it. Many are covered by insurance, including Medicaid. If cost is a barrier, community distribution programs—including ACRDA and partner organizations—provide naloxone at no cost. Contact us and we will point you to the closest source.
Frequently asked questions
Does carrying naloxone encourage drug use? Research consistently shows the answer is no. Communities with widespread naloxone availability see fewer overdose deaths and no increase in drug use.
Can I get in trouble for helping? Colorado's Good Samaritan law protects people who call 911 and administer naloxone in good faith. Similar laws exist in most states.
How should I store it? Keep naloxone at room temperature, away from direct light. Check the expiration date twice a year. Replace expired doses—the medication loses potency over time.
Whom should I train? Family members, roommates, teachers, coaches, faith leaders, and anyone who might be present when an overdose occurs. Training takes 15 minutes. It has saved tens of thousands of lives.
