Naloxone

Naloxone is a prescription medication used to reverse an opioid overdose, including an overdose from prescription opioids or from heroin. It is used to wake up people from an overdose. It usually works within 3-5 minutes and, depending on the device, is effective when sprayed in the nose or injected in a muscle.

People who:

• Are taking high doses of opioids for long-term management of chronic pain
• Have a history of substance abuse or a previous non-fatal overdose
• Are using heroin
• Have lowered opioid tolerance as a result of completing a detoxification program or recently being released from incarceration
• Are using a combination of opioids and other drugs such as benzodiazepines (Klonopin®, Valium®, Xanax®) or alcohol
• Are unfamiliar with the strength and dosage of prescription opioids and the purity of street drugs like heroin
• Are alone when using drugs
• Smoke cigarettes or have a respiratory illness, kidney or liver disease, cardiac illness, or HIV/AIDS

When people take opioids, they are at risk for overdose.* Having naloxone may save a life.

Many overdoses are unintentional and may still happen even when taking medication as prescribed. Those taking opioids may become very drowsy and their breathing slowed, or they may even stop breathing all together, which could result in death. Naloxone blocks the effect of the opioid so the person will be able to breathe normally again. If someone requires urgent medical attention due to opioid use, having a naloxone kit on hand enables you to help them breathe again immediately while you wait for EMS to arrive.

*Having opioids in the home puts others, including children, at risk for overdose.

Utah now has a standing order in place for naloxone prescriptions. This means that Utah pharmacists can now dispense naloxone without a prescription. Please remember that you do not need a prescription (RX) from your doctor to obtain naloxone. Contact your pharmacy of choice before arriving to ensure they have naloxone in stock.

The cost of naloxone depends on the source and product type. When insurance does not offer coverage for naloxone, Utahns may expect to pay anywhere from $50-$200 out of pocket for the antidote. However, many agencies offer kits and training for free.

If you believe you are witnessing an overdose you should perform the following steps:

1. Call 911 and report the overdose or symptoms
2. Try to wake the person. Yell the person’s name and rub hard in the middle of their chest (sternal rub).
3. Check for breathing and pulse
4. Administer naloxone*
5. Provide Rescue Breathing*
6. Place person on side
7. Administer 2nd dose of naloxone after 3 minutes if necessary**
8. Remain with them until EMS arrives

If you are unsure whether or not someone is overdosing, naloxone can still be administered at no harm to the patient even if they are not overdosing. Naloxone will not cause a separate overdose. Remember to call 911 emergency responders first.

*Training videos can be found here.

**In some cases, more than one dose of naloxone is needed to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose since naloxone only lasts about 30-90 minutes. There is a potential risk for a patient to overdose again as the naloxone wears off since there might be longer-acting substances still present in the body. For this reason, it is crucial to always call 911 even before administering the antidote.

If you call 911, you are protected from legal charges concerning that person, the overdose, and any side effects of naloxone, because you are trying to save a life. However, you must remain at the scene and comply with medical providers and law enforcement. If you leave the person without calling 911 and that person dies, you can be charged with his or her death. See Utah’s Good Samaritan Law and Overdose Reporting Amendment for more information.

If you are concerned about trouble with the law from drugs in the house, you should know that drug possession as of October 1, 2015, in Utah has been changed to a Class A misdemeanor from a third degree felony. So the law does not offer you complete immunity, but under the circumstances, it is very unlikely that you will be arrested. The important thing is that you can—and should—act to help save a life by calling 911 and administering naloxone.

Overdose outreach providers, community based organizations, local health departments, and other agencies interested in receiving Narcan® through the Utah Department of Health Standing Prescription Drug Order will need to complete this form to assist in the processing of our application.

If you have any questions regarding this application or the program, please email naloxone@utah.gov.

Here are locations and organizations provide free naloxone and resources. Please note that resources may be limited; calling is advised to ensure naloxone availability. Naloxone may also be obtained across the state through Utah Naloxone (385) 495-9050.
CENTRAL UTAH:
Central Utah Public Health Department- (435) 896-5451 ext. 322

DAVIS COUNTY:
Davis County Health Department- (801) 525-5070

Davis Behavioral Health- (801) 773-7060

One Voice Recovery- (801) 696-1139

MOAB:
Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness (USARA)- (435) 259-6131

PARK CITY & SURROUNDING AREAS:
Valley Behavioral Health- (435) 649-8347

Wasatch Mental Health- (435) 654-3003

Wasatch County Health Department- (435) 657-3260

LOGAN:
Bear River Health Department- (435) 695-2094

Utah State Univeristy HEART- (435) 752-6263

PRICE/ CARBON/ EMERY:
Four Corners Community Behavioral Health- (435) 637-7200

One Voice Recovery- (801) 696-1139

Southeast Utah Public Health Department- (435) 637-3671

Utah State Univeristy HEART- (435) 636-3276

SALT LAKE CITY & SURROUNDING AREAS:
Bingham Creek Public Library- (801) 943-4636

Columbus Public Library- (801) 943-4636

Draper Public Library- (801) 943-4636

Fouth Street Clinic- (385) 234-5708

Herriman Public Library- (801) 943-4636

Hunter Public Library- (801) 943-4636

Magna Public Library- (801) 943-4636

Millcreek Public Library- (801) 943-4636

Odyssey House- (801) 428-3439

Riverton Public Library- (801) 943-4636

Salt Lake County Health Department- (385) 468-5281

Sandy Public Library- (801) 943-4636

Smith Public Library- (801) 943-4636

South Jordan Public Library- (801) 943-4636

Taylorsville Public Library- (801) 943-4636

Tyler Public Library- (801) 943-4636

Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness (USARA)- (385) 210-0320

Utah AIDS Foundation- (801) 487-2323

Utah Harm Reduction Coalition- (801) 569-1995

Utah State University HEART- (385) 468-4816

Utah Department of Health- (801) 538-6256

Volunteers of America, Youth Resource Center- (801) 364-0744

West Jordan Public Library- (801) 943-4636

West Valley Public Library- (801) 943-4636

Whitmore Public Library- (801) 943-4636

ST. GEORGE:
Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness (USARA)- (435) 319-8800

Southwest Behavioral Health Center- (435) 634-5617

TOOELE:
Birch Family Pharmacy- (435) 882-7775

Tooele County Health Department- (435) 277-2300

Utah Harm Reduction Coalition- (801) 569-1995

UTAH COUNTY:
Eagle Mountain City Library-Address: 1650 Stagecoach Run, Eagle Mountain, UT 84005-Phone: (801) 789-6623

Salem City Library-Address: 59 S Main St, Salem, UT 84653-Phone: (801) 423-2622

Saratoga Springs Library-Address: 1307 Commerce Dr Suite 140, Saratoga Springs, UT 84045-Phone: (801) 766-6513

Spanish Fork Library-Address: 49 S Main St, Spanish Fork, UT 84660-Phone: (801) 804-4480

Utah County Health Department-Address: 151 S University Ave, Suite 2204 Provo, UT 84601-Phone: (801) 851-7139
OGDEN:
Hope Clinic: Midtown Community Health Center- (801) 393-2742

Ogden City Fire- (801) 629-8069

Weber Human Services- (801) 625-3874

Youth Futures Shelter Home- (801) 528-1214

Please contact naloxone@utah.gov for any changes/updates to this page.