Counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl mean overdose isn't just an "opioid addict" problem anymore — it can happen to a friend who took a pill they thought was Xanax or Adderall. Naloxone (brand name Narcan) is a nasal spray that reverses an opioid overdose within minutes. It's safe, it's legal for anyone to carry, and it's easy enough to use that you can learn it right now.
Where to get it — free
- Pharmacies — available over the counter; no prescription needed in most states
- Community programs & schools — many distribute it free; ask your school nurse
- Harm reduction programs — the National Harm Reduction Coalition has a locator for free supplies
- Keep one in your bag. It costs nothing to carry and could be worth someone's life.
Find free naloxone near you
The map below shows pharmacies and harm-reduction sites near us that carry naloxone. Minnesota also has an official Naloxone Finder that lists free providers statewide.
In the Twin Cities, free naloxone is also available through the Steve Rummler HOPE Network — they do training and free kits.
Step 1: Recognize an overdose
Someone overdosing on opioids typically shows:
- Unresponsive — won't wake up even if you shake them or shout their name
- Slow, shallow, or no breathing — or gurgling/snarling sounds
- Foaming at the mouth — frothy saliva, sometimes pink-tinged
- Blue or gray lips and fingernails
- Pinpoint pupils
- Cold, clammy skin
If they're awake and responsive, you don't need naloxone. If they check some of these boxes and won't wake up — act.
Step 2: Call 911 — first, always
Call 911 before you give naloxone. Tell them exactly what you see: "My friend isn't breathing and won't wake up — I think it's an overdose." If you're with others, point at someone specific: "You — call 911." And don't be scared of getting in trouble: Good Samaritan laws in most states protect people who call for help during an overdose from prosecution for underage drinking or possession.
Step 3: Give the naloxone (nasal spray)
This takes about ten seconds:
- Peel — open the package and take out the device
- Position — tilt their head back; insert the tip into one nostril until your fingers touch their nose
- Press — push the plunger firmly until it clicks; that's one full dose
- Remove — pull the device out. Done.
That's it. No aiming, no assembly. If it doesn't seem to work after 2–3 minutes, give a second dose in the other nostril (a new device — each one is single-use). Fentanyl is strong enough that it sometimes takes two or three doses. For the full official walkthrough, see the CDC's naloxone guide.
Step 4: If they still aren't breathing
Naloxone buys time — but if they aren't breathing on their own, they need air. If you know CPR or rescue breathing, do it. If not, the 911 operator will literally talk you through it over the phone while you wait for help. Want to learn before you need it? The Red Cross CPR guide has step-by-step instructions and free classes.
Step 5: Recovery position + stay with them
If they start breathing again but aren't fully awake:
- Roll them onto their side (recovery position) — bent top leg, head tilted back so they can't choke if they vomit
- Stay until help arrives — naloxone can wear off before the opioids do, and they can slip back under. Do not leave them alone.
What happens when they wake up
They may be confused, sick, or agitated — withdrawal hits fast when naloxone kicks the opioids off their receptors. That discomfort is temporary and it beats the alternative. Stay calm, tell them help is coming, keep them on their side.
The takeaway
- Get free naloxone — pharmacy, school nurse, harm reduction program
- Call 911 first — Good Samaritan laws protect you
- Nose, press, done — then again in 2–3 minutes if needed
- Stay until help arrives
Our presentations teach this hands-on. And seriously — go put naloxone on your list of things to pick up this week. The life you save will probably be someone you know.