Narcan Helps Responders Save Lives

When an opioid overdose slows or stops a person’s breathing, first responders have little time to act. Narcan gives them a tool that can reverse the overdose and help restore breathing within minutes. Narcan is a brand name for naloxone, a medication that blocks the effects of opioids, including fentanyl, heroin and prescription opioid pain medications. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, naloxone can restore normal breathing within two to three minutes. Some overdoses require more than one dose.