What is NARCAN?

Naloxone, or brand name “Narcan”, is an opioid antidote (antagonist) that reverses an opioid overdose. During an opioid overdose, the respiratory and central nervous system are depressed, and breathing slows or completely stops. Naloxone blocks the effects of opioids and reverses an overdose. Allowing a person to breathe normally.

 

Naloxone will not get a person high, is not additive, and it will not harm a person if opioids are not present.

 

Naloxone is easy to administer and effective in preventing opioid overdose deaths.

 

Naloxone saves lives. It is the same concept as CPR, AED’s, and EpiPens. It mitigates the damage caused by a negative reaction in the body.

 

How do opioids work?

Opioids bind to opioid receptors in the brain. These receptors exist because we excrete endogenous (natural) opioids, also called endorphins, during physiological stress to ease the pain. When opioids are ingested, they bind to the opioid receptors in the same way.

 

However, during an overdose, too many bind to receptors and slow down the central nervous and respiratory systems. More potent opioids, such as heroin and fentanyl, bind to the receptors more strongly and sometimes take longer to be metabolized, which increases the risk of overdosing.

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