Narcan can save lives if businesses stock it and Arizonans learn to use it

Christin Day

Submitted photo

No one ever wants to use Narcan, but if the moment comes, having it on hand and knowing how to use it could mean the difference between tragedy and another chance at life.”

I’ve been to more overdose funerals than I even want to admit or remember. I’m seven years sober and have now worked in addiction recovery for years. Each family I’ve attempted to console has been shattered.

On this Overdose Awareness Day, Aug. 31, I have one request — that businesses across Arizona stock Narcan as a standard operating procedure.

It should be in the breakroom, in first aid kits, medicine cabinets, in drawers at front counters — anywhere employees can gain quick and easy access to potentially save the life of anyone walking through the door.

You just don’t know who might be silently struggling. It could be a teenager in crisis, a parent battling painkiller dependence or someone who simply took something laced with fentanyl and didn’t know it. Overdose doesn’t always look like what we expect.

Narcan won’t solve the overdose crisis, but it can give people a second chance. I don’t consider it enabling or condoning. To me, it speaks to compassion, understanding and zero judgement.

According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, 1,928 Arizonans died from opioid overdoses in 2023, nearly 94% of which were accidental. When I read stats like these, I feel heartbroken and wonder what more could be done, and if people had Narcan readily available, could that have helped?

What is Narcan?

Narcan, the brand name for Naloxone, is a small nasal spray that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose within minutes by restoring breathing.

I currently work with neighborhood coalition 27Collab, Grand Canyon University and other businesses to teach classes on how to use Narcan, and it couldn’t be more simple. You don’t have to be a doctor to administer it, you just need to be willing to help.

What to do if you suspect overdose

The first step is recognizing signs of an overdose. If the person is unresponsive, has slowed or stopped breathing, and is pale or bluish, call 911 immediately.

To administer Narcan, support the person’s head and lay them on their back. Gently tilt their head back to insert the Narcan spray nozzle into one nostril, then firmly press the plunger to deliver the full dose.

If they don’t respond within two to three minutes, give a second dose in the other nostril. Continue to monitor their breathing and roll them onto their side if they begin to breathe again. This is the recovery position.

Stay with them until help arrives. Narcan can wear off within 30 to 90 minutes, so the person will still need medical care.

Finding and stocking Narcan

Understanding how to use Narcan is only part of the equation. Knowing where to get it and how to keep it stocked is critical. Narcan is available at over-the-counter pharmacies, no prescription or standing order needed. It’s also sold online and can be bought in bulk. At Crossroads, we stock it at every location, and I carry it in my purse.

Be aware that kits have expiration dates. Recently, the FDA extended the shelf life of new products to four years. Still, it’s wise to check expiration dates regularly and to replace kits that are close to or past their expiration.

No one ever wants to use Narcan, but if the moment comes, having it on hand and knowing how to use it could mean the difference between tragedy and another chance at life. By stocking Narcan and making it part of our workplace safety culture, we send a powerful message — that every life matters, that compassion has a place in business and that we refuse to look the other way.

Editor’s note: Christin Day is communications and outreach manager at Crossroads, an Arizona Department of Health Service-licensed residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment program with locations in Chandler, Glendale, Mesa, Phoenix and Scottsdale. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.