Distribution of the overdose-reversal drug naloxone is a key part of the state’s efforts to reduce overdose deaths in Connecticut.

Officials say there have been meaningful reductions in the number of overdose deaths that correspond to efforts to widely distribute the drug, widely known by the brand name Narcan.

The number of unintentional overdose deaths fell from a high of 1,524 in 2021 to 982 in 2024. Because naloxone is so effective at preventing overdose deaths if someone is nearby to administer it, a large proportion of people who are still dying from overdose are using drugs while alone.

Here’s what to know about what the drug does, how to use it and where to find it.

How does naloxone work?

Naloxone is an opioid reversal drug that comes in the form of a nasal spray.

When someone is overdosing their breathing slows down, and if too little oxygen reaches their brain the result can be death. Naloxone works by knocking opioids off of receptors in the brain and taking their place.

Some naloxone kits require the user to put together pieces of a cartridge and then administer the spray into each nostril. A second type of kit is already assembled and the user administers the spray with a push into one nostril. After waiting two to three minutes for a response, another dose can be given in the other nostril. A short educational video from Hartford Healthcare can be found here with visual instructions about how to use each kind of kit.

After administering naloxone, you should always call 911. A person who has received naloxone should be monitored to ensure they don’t need another dose after the initial dose has worn off, or they could still die of an overdose.

Where can I get naloxone?

Anyone can get naloxone for free from a variety of harm reduction programs in Connecticut, including organizations like The Root Center for Advanced Recovery in Manchester, the Connecticut Harm Reduction Alliance in Hartford and New Haven, and the Alliance for Living in New London.

Another way to get naloxone is from a local pharmacy, which state officials say is the most convenient way to get it. No prescription is necessary and the cost varies between $20 and $40 for two doses, they said. Some insurance covers the cost of naloxone, while other insurers require a co-pay.

The state is also working on creating free vending machines in some cities, where people will be able to access naloxone, along with other safe use supplies like fentanyl test strips.

The state has funded its naloxone distribution effort with money from legal settlements, with around $9.2 million to “naloxone saturation” so far. In 2025, 77,304 naloxone kits were distributed, according to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

Are there negative consequences to administering naloxone?

Health officials say that there are no negative consequences of administering naloxone. The drug will have no effect if administered on a person mistakenly who has not taken opioids. And if a person does have opioids in their system, naloxone has the ability to reverse an overdose. Naloxone can also cause a person who is using opioids to go into withdrawal. Connecticut’s Good Samaritan laws also shield those administering naloxone from legal liability.

“I think as the population of Connecticut gets more familiar with the issue and understands how easy it is to use — that it is just a nasal spray that goes in your nose, like an allergy medication, it’s not complicated — as more folks get used to that, they’re more likely to actually use it when they come across somebody who looks like they might be overdosing,” said Luiza Barnat, director of opioid services at DMHAS.

Barnat said that when the reversal drug first became available, there were concerns that it would simply enable drug use. “I would want people to hear that it does not enable continued use. We have plenty of studies that show people don’t use more just because you revive them,” she said.

While DMHAS’s goal is to also get people who are using into recovery, they emphasize that no recovery can occur when a person is lost to overdose. “Life is worth saving,” Barnat said

Who should carry naloxone?

Health officials say that it’s most important for people who have regular interaction with opioid use to carry naloxone. That includes both people using opioids and other types of drugs, since many drugs are now tainted with opioids like fentanyl.

People with family and friends who may be using opioids should also have naloxone. Health officials also say that people who work in public spaces like libraries, restaurants, community centers and event venues should carry naloxone or have it readily available on site.

Some advocates go a step further, saying that everyone should carry naloxone because you never know when you might come across someone who needs it.

“In my travels, out and about in everyday life, I’ve Narcan-ed someone before,” said Joe Maddalena, director of nursing at The Root Center, a behavioral health center that offers substance abuse treatment. At the time, Maddelena was in a Walmart parking lot and saw a man overdosing in a car as his girlfriend tried to wake him up.

Does naloxone expire?

Naloxone generally comes with an expiration date of two to three years, and while advocates say it can remain effective past its expiration date, it’s a good idea to replace naloxone within a few months of that date. In 2024, Narcan-brand naloxone extended its shelf life from three to four years.

For more information on naloxone, the Connecticut Department of Public Health has created a free app called NORA.