Naloxone is a medication that can rapidly reverse the effects of opioid overdose by binding to opioid receptors in the body. It works by blocking the effects of opioids like heroin or prescription pain medications that have depressed respiration. Naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing in a person whose breathing has slowed or stopped due to an opioid overdose.

1. "Naloxone is a medication designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose.
It is an opioid antagonist—meaning that it binds to opioid receptors and
can reverse and block the effects of other opioids. It can very quickly
restore normal respiration to a person whose breathing has slowed or
stopped as a result of overdosing with heroin or prescription opioid pain
medications." (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
1 . A C C E S S W I T H A
P R E S C R I P T I O N
Every state has naloxone
access laws in place.
49 states allow third party
prescribing of naloxone, and one
state implies allowance of third
party prescribing by statutory
text.
1. Opioid Overdose Reversal with Naloxone (Narcan, Evzio). National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-
topics/opioid-overdose-reversal-naloxone-narcan-evzio. January 2018. Accessed January 2018.
2. Davis, C. JD, MSPH. Legal Interventions to Reduce Overdose Mortality: Naloxone Access and Overdose Good Samaritan Laws. The
Network for Public Health Law. July 2017.
U.S.
NALOXONE
ACCESS
2 . A C C E S S W I T H A
S T A N D I N G O R D E R
46 states permit prescribing of
naloxone via standing order, and
5 states imply standing orders
are permitted by statutory text.
3 . A C C E S S W I T H O U T A
P R E S C R I P T I O N
4 . G O O D S A M A R I T A N
L A W S
15 states allow possession of
naloxone without a prescription.
40 states have Good Samaritan
laws protecting individuals who
report an overdose in good faith.
44 states provide civil immunity
to lay distributers of naloxone.
39 states provide criminal
immunity to lay distributers of
naloxone.
5 . L A Y
A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
The Bureau of Economic Research reports that adoption of
naloxone access law is associated with a 9 - 11% decrease in
opioid-related deaths in a state.
88% of people surveyed in Washington state
indicated that they would be more likely to contact
emergency services in the event of an overdose
based on adoption of Good Samaritan laws.
Kristin O'Donovan