On April 5, 2018, the US surgeon general issued an advisory recommending that Americans carry Narcan, the opioid overdose-reducing drug. Read below to find out how you can get this life-saving drug quickly and cheaply. 

Narcan® (also known as Naloxone) is a safe, effective antidote for opioids. It can stop an overdose and restore normal breathing until emergency response can arrive. It is easy to get and easy to use.

This medication is not just for people with an opioid dependence or addiction. If you or a loved one are prescribed opioid painkillers, or are taking opioids, you should have Narcan on hand. The Virginia Board of Medicine requires that physicians prescribe Narcan if opioid prescriptions exceed 120 MME per day.

Opioid overdose death rates were reduced by half in communities providing access to Narcan.

Narcan® is: 1) Not a substitute for emergency medical care; 2) Repeated doses may be necessary; 3) Designed for community use outside of a medical setting; 4) A single dose device is ready for rapid deployment by a bystander with no specialized training 

For more information about Opioid Addiction Treatment services and the steps the City is taking to protect residents from the opioid epidemic, please visit alexandriava.gov/Opioids.

Fentanyl test strips (FTS) are a low-cost method of helping prevent drug overdoses and reducing harm. FTS are small strips of paper that can detect the presence of fentanyl in all different kinds of drugs (cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, etc.) and drug forms (pills, powder, and injectables), according to the CDC. 

Alexandria Health Department dispenses fentanyl test strips at no cost at our main office: 4850 Mark Center Drive, Alexandria VA 22311. Come to the fourth floor and ask the registration desk for test strips and instructions on how to use them. AHD will not ask you why you’re picking up test strips.

AT YOUR LOCAL PHARMACY. 

In response to the opioid epidemic in Virginia, the State Health Commissioner has issued a standing order allowing all Virginians to obtain Narcan without a prescription.

• 94% of insured lives in the U.S. have coverage for Narcan, and most insurances offer a co-pay of $10 or less for the prescription. 

FREE AT ALEXANDRIA HEALTH DEPARTMENT. 

Alexandria Health Department is offering FREE Narcan and Narcan counseling to ANY interested member of the public. Call 703.746.4888 to make an appointment or walk-in to any of our clinics at 4850 Mark Center Drive (Floor 4) during regular business hours: M-F 8 A.M.-4:30 P.M.; Th. 12:45-4:30 P.M. 

Narcan® is: 1) Not a substitute for emergency medical care; 2) Repeated doses may be necessary; 3) Designed for community use outside of a medical setting; 4) A single dose device is ready for rapid deployment by a bystander with no specialized training 

For more information about Opioid Addiction Treatment services and the steps the City is taking to protect residents from the opioid epidemic, please visit alexandriava.gov/Opioids.