Free Narcan in Jacksonville: Where to Get Naloxone and How to Use It

What naloxone is

Naloxone is a medicine that rapidly reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. Narcan is the most familiar brand of naloxone nasal spray. The FDA calls naloxone the standard treatment for opioid overdose.

Florida’s iSaveFL program explains that naloxone works by blocking opioid receptors in the brain. It is mostly given as a nasal spray, and it can also be given by injection. Someone who is not having an overdose will not be harmed by a dose.

Naloxone works on opioids, including heroin, fentanyl and prescription painkillers. It doesn’t reverse alcohol, benzodiazepines or xylazine. Still, the CDC says to give it in any suspected overdose, because opioids are so often mixed into other drugs.

You can buy it without a prescription

On March 29, 2023, the FDA approved Narcan 4 mg naloxone nasal spray for over-the-counter use, the first naloxone product approved without a prescription. The FDA said this opens the way for sales in drug stores, convenience stores, grocery stores and gas stations, as well as online.

Other forms and doses of naloxone may still need a prescription. Ask a pharmacist if you aren’t sure which product you have.

If cost is a worry, start with the free options below. If you have health insurance, you can also ask the pharmacist whether your plan helps pay for it.

Free naloxone in Jacksonville

Florida Department of Health in Duval County. DOH-Duval says it is giving out Narcan to members of the community free of charge. Its page lists these Jacksonville locations:

• 515 West 6th St., Jacksonville, FL 32206 (the Pharmacy Center, Comprehensive Care Center, Center for Women and Children and other clinics at this address)
• 3225 University Blvd. South, Jacksonville, FL 32216 (South Jacksonville Family Health Center and nearby services)
• 921 N. Davis St., Bldg. B, Suite 350, Jacksonville, FL 32209 (Environmental Health)
• 5917 105th St., Jacksonville, FL 32244 (Wesconnett WIC and Nutrition Services)
• 120 King St., Jacksonville, FL 32204 (Westside Children’s Dental Center)

Hours and locations can change, so check the DOH-Duval page or call 904-253-1488 before you go. The program’s email is PreventOverdoseDuval@FLHealth.gov.

iSaveFL, statewide. The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) runs the Overdose Prevention Program and its iSaveFL campaign, and the Florida Department of Health works with DCF on it. DCF says the program has given out free naloxone since 2016 through a network of enrolled distributors, including treatment providers, shelters, hospital emergency departments, health centers and sober living homes. The iSaveFL site has a tool to find a local provider.

After the overdose: the next step

An overdose is a turning point for many families. Naloxone buys time, but it isn’t treatment. Medication for opioid use disorder, such as buprenorphine or methadone, is what NIDA calls the standard of care. Read our fentanyl and opioid treatment page and our medication-assisted treatment guide.