Connecticut State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

Naloxone (Narcan) Initiative

Opioid Overdose Prevention

Naloxone Initiative

Naloxone, also known as NARCAN ® Nasal Spray, is a medication that reverses an opioid overdose. It is a safe and easy to use medication available over the counter at pharmacies and free of cost at many local community organizations. 

Naloxone is only effective on opioids (fentanyl, heroin, OxyContin, Vicodin, etc.) and has no misuse potential. Persons given naloxone who have not overdosed on opioids will not be harmed. Persons dependent on opioids who are given naloxone may experience opioid withdrawal. In any overdose situation, 9-1-1 should be called, and naloxone should be administered.

How Can I Get Naloxone?

Statewide Resources

Responding to opioids involves multiple state agencies, including:

Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS): 

  • DMHAS provides Naloxone to numerous community-based entities, including hospital emergency departments, treatment and recovery support providers, municipalities (first responders), and harm reduction service organizations, as well as other state agencies, including the Department of Corrections. In 2022, DMHAS created a state naloxone saturation plan of distributing at least 45,000 naloxone kits to ensure naloxone is readily available across the state, and distribution has increased steadily since then.
  • DMHAS Naloxone Distribution by Calendar Year 
    Year Kits Distributed 
     2019 11,581 
     2020 13,162 
     2021 14,986
     2022  29,064
     2023 58,642 
     2024 64,087 
     2025  77,304
  • Organizations seeking naloxone to distribute may contact Karolina Wytrykowska at Karolina.Wytrykowska@ct.gov

Department of Public Health (DPH)

Department of Consumer Protection (DCP)

Governor's Office

Has supported legislation related to opioids and naloxone.

 

Training Materials

Any of the following materials can be printed. For convenience, the one-page two-sided brochure listed below contains information for identifying and responding to an opioid overdose with naloxone. 

Helpful Resources and Links

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What are the risks associated with naloxone use?

Naloxone (NARCAN ® Nasal Spray) is a safe medication that reverses an opioid overdose. It is safe to administer even if the person is not in an active overdose.
 

How quickly does naloxone work?

When properly administered, naloxone (NARCAN ® Nasal Spray) usually works within 2–5 minutes. If there is no response during this time, a second dose can be administered.
 

Who in the state of CT is authorized to prescribe naloxone?

In CT, many formulations of naloxone are available over the counter, and it can be prescribed by authorized prescribers such as physicians, surgeons, PAs, APRNs, dentists, podiatrists, and trained and certified pharmacists. 
 

Will I be arrested if I call 911 when there’s been an overdose?

Public Act 11-210 An Act Concerning Emergency Medical Assistance for Persons Experiencing an Overdose and the Designation of Certain Synthetic Stimulants as Controlled Substances concerns consequences for possession of different substances, but makes an exception in section g, for persons who in good faith seek medical assistance for a person that they reasonably believe is overdosing. Consequently, you should be protected from arrest by this “Good Samaritan” law.
 

What do I do if I come across someone who has overdosed?

An overdose is a medical emergency requiring an immediate response. The 2 most important things to do are:

  1. Give the person naloxone.

  2. Call 911.

If you are able to, provide rescue breathing using the following steps:

  1. With the person flat on their back and you kneeling beside them, tilt their head back, lift their chin and pinch their nose shut.
  2. Using a face shield, if available, cover their mouth with your mouth, provide 2 breaths, then 1 breath every 5 seconds.
  3. Continue breathing for the person until they revive or EMS arrives or you are too exhausted to continue.

How does naloxone work?

Naloxone competes with the opioids the person used for the same receptor sites in the brain. Since naloxone has a greater affinity for the binding sites, the opioids the person used are replaced by the naloxone which reverses the overdose effects of the opioids.

 

What increases/decreases risk of an opioid overdose?

These factors are associated with increased risk of an opioid overdose:

  • Using too much (more than the usual amount; stronger than expected)
  • Less tolerance due to not using for at least a few days because of arrest, incarceration, hospitalization, rehab, etc.
  • Mixing opiates with other substances, especially other respiratory depressants like alcohol and/or benzodiazepines (tranquilizers)
  • Other health issues 
  • Previous overdose
  • Using alone

These factors are associated with decreased risk of an opioid overdose:

  • Using a consistent source/supplier
  • Testing a small amount first
  • Using with someone else or using a spotting service. Call 1-800-972-0590 for SafeSpot, a 24/7 per-led overdose detection and prevention hotline. 
  • Using less if you haven’t used in some time, for any reason
  • Not letting anyone else prepare your drugs for you

What are commonly used opioids?

Fentanyl, heroin, Oxycontin, morphine, Vicodin, methadone, and Percocet. Many pressed pills contain fentanyl, even if they are marketed as another substance. 
 

Can a person overdose on a prescription opioid?

A person can overdose on any opioid, regardless of whether it is a prescription medication or not.
 

Where do I store the naloxone?

Naloxone should be stored at room temperature (neither too hot nor too cold) and should be kept out of sunlight; please consult the box the Naloxone came in for further instruction. 
 

What is an overdose “kit”?

Overdose kits may include 2 doses of naloxone, a pair of gloves, a Rescue Breathing mask, and a set of instructions. 
 

Should I report if I revived someone with naloxone?

Individuals are not required to report having revived someone with naloxone. At present, EMS, hospitals, and others because of their jobs are required to report naloxone reversals.

Will insurance cover the cost of the naloxone at a pharmacy?

Insurance may cover the cost of the prescription. You can check with your insurance company. If you have Husky C or Husky D, the cost is covered by these plans.

Will naloxone work if the person overdosed on something other than an opioid?

Naloxone (NARCAN ® Nasal Spray) will only work to reverse the effects of opioids.
 

Will the person who recovers from an overdose be violent?

People who overdose generally don’t realize what has happened to them. When they are revived, they may feel sick or agitated. Calmly explain what happened.
 

Can a person re-overdose after the naloxone has been given?

Yes. Naloxone does not last very long in the body, only 30 - 90 minutes. If the overdose was the result of a person using an extended release/long acting (ER/LA) opioid, it's possible they could re-overdose without taking additional opioids once the naloxone wears off. The reason is that naloxone does not remove opioids from the body, only from the receptor sites in the brain. This is one reason why it is important to call 911 and for people who have overdosed to be evaluated by a medical professional even if they have been revived already by the naloxone.