Reverse an Opioid Overdose

Naloxone is a medicine that can quickly reverse an opioid overdose and can be given by anyone. Even if you’re not sure that someone is overdosing, naloxone won’t harm a person who isn’t overdosing, so you should still use it.

In Louisiana, naloxone is legal for anyone to have on hand. Louisiana’s Good Samaritan Law protects people who call 911 for an overdose so that you and the person who overdosed can’t be charged with a crime.

Naloxone comes in two different forms: Nasal spray (through the nose) and injectable (using a needle to inject it into the muscle, under the skin, or into a vein). The City of New Orleans offers community trainings where participants can get a free dose of nasal naloxone to use in the event of an overdose. You can request to host a training through the NOLA Ready website.

Click here for a training video on how to use NARCAN, and here for how to use injectable naloxone.

How to Assemble Nasal Naloxone

  1. Take off yellow caps
  2. Screw on the white cone
  3. Take plastic cap off naloxone vial
  4. Gently screw naloxone vial into syringe

How to Give Nasal Naloxone

  1. Tilt the person’s head back
  2. Make sure there’s nothing blocking the nasal passages, like blood or mucus
  3. Insert the white cone into either nostril
    • Give a strong, short push on end of capsule to spray half the naloxone into each nostril
    • If the person doesn't respond within 1 minute, and you have a second dose, give it to them

1. Unpack the contents

  • Needleless syringe
  • Naloxone ampule
  • Atomizer

4. Remove cap from syringe tip

2. Remove protective caps





5. Twist atomizer onto syringe tip

3. Twist ampule into syringe





6. Administer Naloxone