Narcan is a brand of naloxone, a medicine that can reverse an opioid overdose. If someone won’t wake up and their breathing is slow or has stopped, call 911, start CPR if they are not breathing normally, and give Narcan as soon as you can.
This is not a rare emergency in Arizona. In 2023, 1,928 Arizona residents died of an opioid overdose. The nasal spray is made for people with no medical training, and according to the CDC it works in 2 to 3 minutes.
What are opioids, and who can overdose?
Opioids include illegal drugs like heroin and fentanyl, and prescription pain medicines like oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and codeine. Many street drugs are mixed with fentanyl, so a person can take an opioid without knowing it.
Too much of an opioid slows or stops breathing. Without oxygen, the brain is harmed and the heart can stop.
An overdose is not only something that happens to other people. It can be a child who finds a family member’s prescription pills, an older adult who took too much pain medicine, or someone found in a church restroom or parking lot.
What are the signs of an opioid overdose?
- Slow breathing, or no breathing
- Tiny pupils
- Blue or gray lips
- Won’t wake up when you tap and shout
- Pills or syringes nearby
You do not need to be sure. If you suspect an overdose, act.
What should you do if you suspect an overdose?
- Check the scene, then tap and shout. Shout for help. Send someone to call 911 and get Narcan and an AED.
- Check breathing for 5 to 10 seconds.
- Not breathing normally, or only gasping? Start CPR with breaths and use the AED. Give Narcan as soon as you can, but never delay or stop CPR to do it. With two rescuers, one does CPR while the other gives Narcan.
- Breathing normally but not alert? Keep tapping and shouting to keep them awake, keep the airway open with a head tilt and chin lift, and give Narcan. Keep watching their breathing.
- No response in 2 to 3 minutes? Give a second dose in the other nostril with a new device. Do the same if their breathing slows or they become less responsive. Each device holds one dose.
- Stay with them until EMS arrives. If you must leave, roll them onto their side into the recovery position first.
An overdose is a breathing emergency, so CPR for an overdose always includes rescue breaths, not Hands-Only CPR. If you are alone with no phone and the person needs CPR, give about 2 minutes of CPR first, then go call 911 and get Narcan and an AED. For the full CPR steps, see How to Do CPR.
How do you give Narcan nasal spray?
- Peel open the package.
- Hold the device with your thumb on the plunger and your first two fingers on either side of the nozzle.
- Put the tip into one nostril.
- Press the plunger firmly to give the whole dose.
Throw the used device away.
Is Narcan safe if you don’t know what they took?
Yes. Narcan is safe to give even if you are not sure what the person took. It will not help an overdose from something other than an opioid, but it will not hurt either.
It is also safe for any age, including children. If a toddler at daycare or a grandchild at home may have swallowed someone’s pain pills and won’t wake up, call 911 and give Narcan.
Narcan is not a substitute for calling 911
Some people think that if Narcan works, the emergency is over. It is not. Narcan can wear off before the opioid does, so a person who wakes up still needs medical care.
Narcan also does nothing for a person who took something other than an opioid, and it does not replace CPR for someone who is not breathing normally. EMS brings care you cannot give.
So the order stays the same every time: call 911 or have someone call, start CPR if needed, and give Narcan when you can. If you are wondering whether to call, read When to Call 911. Questions about legal protection are covered in Arizona’s Good Samaritan Law and First Aid.
Where can you get naloxone in Arizona?
Naloxone nasal spray is sold over the counter at pharmacies. Arizona pharmacists can also dispense it under a statewide standing order, and the Arizona Department of Health Services runs free naloxone programs.
Daycares, schools, churches, and other workplaces can keep Narcan in the first aid kit or next to the AED. Make sure staff know where it is.
This article is general education. It does not replace hands-on CPR and first aid training, where you practice these skills with an instructor.
How LP Health Directions can help
Our classes cover opioid overdose and Narcan alongside CPR and AED skills.
- CPR and First Aid classes in Phoenix and Tucson.
- On-site Group Training for daycares, schools, churches, and workplaces.
- First Aid Solutions to stock your first aid kits, and AED Solutions for the AED to keep beside them.
- Ready to learn? Book a class or browse the full First Aid Guide.
Sources
- Arizona Department of Health Services, Opioid Overdose Surveillance Report 2023
- Arizona Department of Health Services, Naloxone
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Lifesaving Naloxone
- American Heart Association, Updated CPR guidelines tackle choking response, opioid-related emergencies and a revised Chain of Survival
- American Heart Association, 2025 Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care
Reviewed September 28, 2026. This article provides general education and does not replace first aid and CPR training, medical advice, or 911 guidance.