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Administration of Narcan

  • What is NARCAN? - Narcan was designed to rapidly reverse the effects of a life-threatening opioid emergency.  It is used to revive someone during an overdose from many prescription pain medications or street drugs such as heroin.

  • How does NARCAN work? - NARCAN competes with opioid to bind with the same receptors in the brain reversing the effects of an opioid overdose in 2 to 3 minutes.  This allows time for emergency help to arrive.

  • Does NARCAN work if someone is not breathing? - A person does not need to be breathing for NARCAN to work. NARCAN needs to be sprayed in the nose and the medicine is absorbed there. It does not need to be inhaled.

Frequently Asked Questions for NARCAN® Nasal Spray

Common Opioids

Opioids can be used to treat pain and may be prescribed by your doctor, often after an injury or surgery. There are opioids that are more common in illicit or street drug use. Some common opioids are:

  • morphine

  • codeine

  • OxyContin (oxycodone)

  • Tramadol

  • Buprenorphine

  • Methadone

  • Vicodin (hydrocodone)

  • Heroin

  • Fentanyl

Signs of Overdose

Signs and symptoms include but not limited to:

  • Slow, Shallow, or absent breathing

  • Extreme drowsiness or unresponsiveness: The person may be difficult to wake up or may not respond to stimuli

  • Pinpoint pupils: The person's pupils may appear very small

  • Bluish tint to the lips and nails: Lack of oxygen can cause bluish discoloration in these areas

  • Slow or weak pulse: The heart rate may be slow or irregular

What is an opioid overdose

Opioid overdoses occur when a person takes too many opioids, such as prescription painkillers. Opioids act on specific receptors in the brain and spinal cord to reduce pain and produce feelings of euphoria. However, taking a high dose or combining opioids with other substances can lead to an overdose, which can be life-threatening. An overdose can happen whether the drugs are taken intentionally or by accident.

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