Narcan and Drug Safety

Student Health Services has free Narcan kits available for current students and employees. These kits can play a critical role in saving lives by counteracting opiod drug overdoses. Please consider getting one of these kits and learning how to use it.

• Available at no cost to any current student or employee
• Get one from the Student Health Services office during business hours
• Watch the video to learn how you can use Narcan to help someone experiencing an overdose
• See answers to some frequently asked questions

Narcan is the brand name for a nasal spray containing naloxone, a nonaddictive medication for treating known or suspected opioid overdoses. It works as an opioid blocker that stops opioids from binding to receptors in the brain, counteracting the effects of an overdose. Common opioids include heroin, fentanyl, morphine, codeine and oxycodone. 

De Anza is distributing these kits as required under a state law known as Assembly Bill 1524. The kits are provided by the state Department of Health Services Naloxone Distribution Project.

How to Use Narcan

Narcan FAQs and Answers

• What is Narcan (naloxone)?

  Naloxone (often distributed under the brand name Narcan) is a life-saving medication that reverses an opioid overdose while having little to no effect on an individual if opioids are not present in their system. Naloxone works by blocking the opioid receptor sites and reversing the toxic effects of the overdose. It has few known adverse effects and no potential for abuse.

  Naloxone is administered when a patient is showing signs of opioid overdose. The medication can be given by intranasal spray, intramuscular (into the muscle), subcutaneous (under the skin), or by intravenous injection

• Who should consider obtaining Narcan?

  If you or a loved one have an opioid prescription, or are struggling with opioid use, you can consider obtaining Narcan to keep on hand.

  Anyone obtaining any illicit substance may also consider keeping Narcan on hand. There has been an increase in substances laced with fentanyl, and individuals using these substances can unknowingly suffer from an opioid overdose.

  Carrying Narcan or having it on hand provides an extra layer of protection for those at a higher risk for overdose.

• What is the Good Samaritan Law?

  California's Good Samaritan law protects those giving emergency medical care at the scene of a medical emergency, including giving Narcan or naloxone.

  Under this law, a person cannot be liable for any civil damages that result from his or her providing of emergency care, such as giving naloxone, if

  • The person acted in good faith, and not for compensation
  • The person provided either emergency medical care or nonmedical care, and
  • The care was provided at the scene of an emergency

• Does Narcan have any side effects?

  There are little to no side effects associated with Narcan.

  However, individuals who are physically dependent on opioids can experience withdrawal symptoms after Narcan is administered. Withdrawal symptoms may include fever, anxiety, irritability, rapid heart rate, sweating, nausea, vomiting, and tremors.

• Can I use Narcan on myself?

  No. Narcan is administered to an individual after an overdose has occurred. Because the individual who overdosed is likely unconscious, or their movement and breathing may be restricted, they would need assistance

• Can Narcan be used for a fentanyl overdose?

  Yes. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, so Narcan can be used to reverse a fentanyl overdose.

• Can Narcan be used for a xylazine overdose?

  Xylazine is not an opioid. (It is a central nervous system depressant that can cause drowsiness and amnesia and can also slow breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure to dangerously low levels.) However, if a xylazine overdose is suspected, experts still recommend giving the Narcan, because xylazine is frequently mixed with fentanyl, which is an opioid.

Sources: California Department of Health Services; San José State University

Free Fentanyl Test Strips

Student Health Services also has free test strips that can be used to prevent drug overdoses by detecting the presence of fentanyl in different kinds of drugs (such as cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, etc.) and drug forms (such as pills, powder and injectables).

• Available at no cost to any current student or employee
• Get a packet of test strips from the Student Health Services office during business hours

Important Note About Fentanyl Testing

While these fentanyl test strips are a helpful tool to reduce the harm of consuming fentanyl-laced substances, they do not guarantee that the substance being consumed is completely fentanyl-free. 

Remember that testing your drugs with fentanyl test strips is like a taking a bite of a chocolate chip cookie: Depending on where you bite, there will be different amounts of chocolate chips, and no two cookies are exactly the same. Similarly, when you test part of a substance with a fentanyl test strip, that particular section that you tested may not contain fentanyl – but that does not guarantee that other sections are also fentanyl-free.

• How do I use the fentanyl test strip?

  Be sure to follow the instructions provided in the packet, in order to read the test correctly.

  In general, test strips will require you to put a small amount of the drug in a container, add water, mix, insert the strip, wait a short amount of time, and then read the results.   

  • If you receive a positive result, it is safest to discard the whole batch of a drug. Fentanyl is a potent substance and any usage can result in an overdose.
  • If you receive a negative result, proceed with caution. No test is 100% accurate and your drugs may still contain fentanyl.
  • If you get an invalid result, test your drugs again using a new strip.

• How can I lower the risk of overdose?

  In addition to testing your drugs, here are some other ways to lower your risk of overdose:

  • Keep Narcan with you, and at home.
  • Avoid mixing drugs.
  • Don’t assume drugs are safe because or your previous experience with a drug or a provider. Each batch is not guaranteed to be identical.
  • Never use drugs alone. Make sure the people around you are aware when you have used a substance in case they need to give you naloxone or call for emergency assistance. 
  • It’s OK to ask for help.