Narcan, a drug which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, is now available for free over the counter and online in New York. The drug can be found at select Walgreens and CVS stores, though this varies based on location. The growing availability of Narcan and Narcan education are making communities safer as New York faces a drug overdose crisis.
The first over the counter Narcan spray was approved for sale in March 2023, according to a decision by the Food and Drug Administration. For the past year, access to the medication has grown. “You can get it at any pharmacy over the counter,” says SLU EMS member Jordan Bell ‘27. “I bought it online.”
Local education centers are offering training to ensure the effective use and integration of Narcan. “We do community Narcan training,” says Kenzie of the North Country Regional Addiction Center. “We also offer walk in Narcan training”
Fentanyl, Morphine, Oxycodone and Heroin are all classified as opioids and can be treated using Narcan. The administration of Narcan is a safe and effective response to treat an opioid overdose. “Narcan is safe to use on adults, children and animals,” says Kenzie. “There is not an age limit.”
While Narcan is safe to use on overdose victims, administrators should be aware of timing to ensure effective treatment. “Narcan has a timeframe where you have to watch the person,” says Kenzie. “They could potentially slip back into an overdose.”
The North Country Regional Addiction Center is working on community outreach to better educate North Country citizens on the use of Narcan. “We have eight school districts that we have fully trained in Narcan,” says Kenzie. “At Clarkson, we have quite a few of the Greek life organizations who participate in Narcan training.”
Opioid overdoses can be caused by addiction or occur accidentally through contamination of other drugs. “Especially with synthetic marijuana, people put other things into it and often times it is fentanyl,” says firefighter Jonathan Page. Page acknowledges that the presence of fentanyl in other drugs is one of the leading causes of overdose.
Fentanyl overdose is a problem in the North Country as laced substances such as marijuana become more common. “Fentanyl is something that is prevalent in St. Lawrence County,” says Kenzie. “It is mixed with other substances, not necessarily other opioids.”
Firefighter Jonathan Page believes that everyone should be able to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose and know how to use Narcan. “Anytime anyone is having an opioid overdoes you’ll often find them laying on the ground unconscious, gulping for air,” says Page. “I think anybody that is able to carry Narcan and feels like they could use it in a general emergency should carry it.”
For opioid overdoses at St. Lawrence University, Narcan can be readily administered by SLU EMS members who were recently trained in Narcan safety and administration. “For training we took turns administering expired Narcan into dummies,” says EMS member Jordan Bell ‘27. “It’s a good thing to know just in case.”
Narcan is also stocked in the Outing Club House, where some members have been trained in administration and have sourced the medication when they could. “A few of us were trained and it took five minutes or less,” says a member of the OC. “I grabbed a bunch of them then and put one in each of the bathrooms.”
Members of the Outing Club have been able to find Narcan from outside sources but admit that St. Lawrence has not offered the medication to theme houses, Greek life houses or dorms. “It should be available in all the dorms,” says the OC member. “It should be accessible across campus.”
Though the average student at St. Lawrence University may not feel comfortable carrying and using Narcan, knowing the medication is available puts them at ease. “I don’t know if I would be able to use it in an emergency,” says McKayla Tyson ‘27. “But I feel safer knowing that other students and EMS carry Narcan.”