“Can Narcan get you high?” No, Narcan does not get you high. Rather, it helps in reversing opioid overdose and restoring breathing and consciousness that could otherwise lead to death. The CDC reports that about 81,083 people died as a result of opioid overdose in 2023. Prompt use of Narcan, the gold standard for reversing an opioid overdose, is crucial to prevent fatalities.
But resuscitating is not enough. It is important to address your addiction and become sober to avoid an emergency in the future. Drug rehab in New Jersey offers medically supervised opioid detox near you that can help eliminate opioids from your body and receive therapy to achieve sobriety.
Table of Contents
How Does Narcan Work?
Narcan (generic name: naloxone) is used for reversing the opioid overdose. Narcan has more affinity for opioid receptors than opioids, which allows it to bind to the receptors and blocks the effects of opioid euphoria. This eventually overcomes overdose and makes your breathing rate better. Some examples of opioids that are abused include:
Before we understand how Narcan cannot get you high, let’s take a look at the importance of Naloxone. Taking large amounts of these opioids for an extended period can result in overdose, leading to the following signs:
- Slowed breathing
- Grey lips
- Dizziness
- Small pupil
- Lightheadedness
- Extreme sedation
- Unconsciousness
Recognizing the early signs of opioid overdose can help you administer naloxone timely. Opioids are pain-relieving medicines or illicit drugs that bind to special sites in the brain called the opioid receptors.
Can Narcan Get You High? Understanding Abuse Potential
Narcan comes in nasal sprays and injections. Regardless of the Narcan administration routes, Narcan does not result in a high. Here are some facts negating the query:
- Naloxone is not a controlled substance
- It can not be abused
- It does not cause euphoria
Hence, there is no such thing as Narcan high. That’s one reason It is available in major pharmacies in New Jersey. But does that mean you can give an opioid-dependent individual as much Narcan as you want?
Narcan Dosage: Side Effects Of Narcan
Although Narcan can’t get you high, it does not mean you can deliver Narcan beyond its approved limits. The FDA guides waiting for 2 minutes to give the second dose (4 mg) of Naloxone. Since Narcan is an opioid antagonist, taking more than the recommended dose can block your opioid receptors for even natural opioids. This can result in:
- Body pain
- Muscle aches
- Severe diarrhea
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Sweating
- Anxiety
If signs of normalization are not observed, it is recommended that you perform head/tilt rescue breathing and call 911 for immediate help.
Looking for Naloxone near you in New Jersey? ChoicePoint can provide you with Naloxone and help with opioid addiction treatment as well. Talk to our addiction professional today 844.445.2565.
How Does Narcan Work in the Body?
Treating Opioid Addiction Beyond Overdose Reversal
Naloxone stays in your system for a few minutes only. It can help reverse opioid overdose but does not treat opioid addiction or manage opioid withdrawal symptoms. Once you have successfully restored the breathing rate of your loved one, it is important to admit them to an opioid rehab near you. Following the ASAM guidelines, a rehab provides these steps to make you clean of opioids:
Step 1: Clearing Opioids From Your Body
Opioid addiction treatment begins with detoxification. Rehab offers a medically supervised opioid detox to clear illicit drugs (such as cocaine) or prescription medicines from your system. Addiction rehabs provide two settings for an opiate detox in NJ (outpatient and inpatient) to meet the specific needs of the clients.
Step 2: Dual Diagnosis
Since addiction goes beyond the physical impact of opioids, it is important to get a holistic treatment to cater to both, the physical and mental effects of opioid misuse. That’s what a dual diagnosis does. It identifies the presence of both physical and mental conditions so you can embark on your recovery journey.
Step 3: Prescribing Opioid Addiction Medicines
There are quite a few FDA-approved medicines to heal the symptoms of opioid addiction. These medications are available under the Opioid MAT program. MAT helps reduce the severity of the withdrawal symptoms and make your recovery journey an easier one. Here is an overview of the medicines that are prescribed to treat opioid addiction:
Medicines |
Working |
Role In Opioid Addiction Treatment |
| Buprenorphine | Partially actives the opioid receptors to limit the opioids from binding them. | Used during the opioid detox stage and maintenance phase to:
|
| Suboxone | Consists of Buprenorphine and Naloxone to act partially to activate the opioid receptors and reduce the abuse potential | It is used to promote recovery during and after the drug-cleansing process as it:
|
| Subutex | Activates the same brain receptors as opioids do. | Used during a detox process to:
Alleviate withdrawal symptoms Curb opioid cravings |
| Sublocade | Partially blocks the opioid receptors. |
|
| Methadone | It slowly acts on the opioid receptors to change the way your brain responds to the pain. | Methadone is a lower toxic medication for helping in:
|
| Naltrexone | Completely blocks the opioid receptors and keeps opioid euphoria from producing. | Naltrexone is an effective remedy for OUD as it:
|
Reach out to ChoicePoint for same-day prescriptions 844.445.2565. You can now get an online prescription for the opioid MAT program.
Step 4: Undergoing Therapies For Opioid Addiction
Opioid addiction equally affects your physical and mental health. You cannot recover fully from addiction unless you address these psychological issues through counseling. There are several therapy options that you can choose from. Discuss with your substance abuse psychiatrist to know what type of therapy will suit you:
“Counseling can help effectively navigate the addiction, regardless of its type. CBT, for instance, works for conditions to improve your behavior and help you identify triggers so you can stay sober. During our CBT sessions, I provide my clients with CBT worksheets to write their demeaning thoughts. This helps them understand where those thoughts are coming from and ultimately avoid those in the future, Julie Kniceley, MA, VP of Corporate Development at ChoicePoint.
Reach Out To ChoicePoint, Addiction Treatment Center In New Jersey
If your loved one is abusing opioids, now is the time to seek professional help and avoid the overdose. ChoicePoint, located in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, is a co-occurring disorder rehab that equally undertakes your mental and physical health. To provide a customized treatment plan that is tailored to your needs. Our doctors can prescribe and administer Naloxone to help you save the lives of your loved ones. Our addiction professionals follow ASAM guidelines to offer the following level of care:
- Medical Detox
- Outpatient Treatment Program
- Inpatient Treatment Program
- Intensive Outpatient Program
- Partial Care
Looking for rehabs in NJ that take Medicaid? ChoicePoint is in the network with most government and commercial insurance companies.
- Medicare
- New Jersey Optum health insurance
- Aetna health insurance NJ
- Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
Check out the list of insurance programs we are in-network with and verify your insurance here.
Same-day MAT Prescription Program
Summing it Up About Can Naloxone Be Absued?
Narcan does not get you high. It is a short-acting medicine that can take you out of an opioid overdose but does not lead to an addiction. However, it is crucial to keep the Naloxone dosage under limits and reach out to drug rehab near you to recover from opioid addiction.
We have been consistently receiving queries relating to Narcan and its safety for opioid overdose. So, we have tried answering some of those queries here:
How Will I Feel After Narcan?
Narcan, being the opioid antagonist, will result in opioid withdrawal symptoms for people dependent on opioids. Some of these withdrawal symptoms could be:
- Nausea
- Anxiety
- High temperature
- Cold
- Muscle aches
- Diarrhea
However, people who are not on opioids won’t really feel any effects with one or two doses of Narcan.
Does Administring Too Much Naloxone Cause Narcan High?
Narcan administration is often followed with the onset of opioid withdrawal symptoms. When you give someone too much of the Narcan, then it can make these withdrawal symptoms severe and acute. Experiencing severe symptoms can make the opioid reversal process painful, pushing the person back to the opioid to relieve that pain. Knowing how and what dose to administer can prevent serious consequences.
Can Narcan Reverse An Overdose Due To Benzodiazepines?
The straightforward answer is no. Narcan, being an opioid antagonist, reverses the overdose resulting from drugs that fall under the opioids category. Benzodiazepine is a different class from opioids. As a result, Narcan would not reverse benzodiazepine (benzos) overdose. Some of the drugs that Narcan can reverse overdose from include:
- Heroin
- Morphine
- Fentanyl
What Is The Storage Temperature of Naloxone?
It is important to keep Naloxone from extremely low and high temperatures. You can use Naloxoxne for 12 months by keeping it under 40°C. However, discard it if the temperature exceeds 40°C or below freezing.
How Fast Does Narcan Work?
Narcan works very quickly – thanks to Nalaoxne in it. Naloxone quickly binds to opioid sites in the brain, reversing the overdose and restoring the breathing rate within 2-3 minutes. However, it is essential to reach out to drug rehab to achieve sobriety.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2024. Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm - BJA Open.2023. Opioids and opioid receptors; understanding pharmacological mechanisms as a key to therapeutic advances and mitigation of the misuse crisis
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772609623000205 - National Center For Biotechnology Information. 2024. Naloxone
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441910/ - Food and Drug Administration. 2016. FDA Advisory Committee on the Most Appropriate Dose or Doses of Naloxone to Reverse the Effects of Life-threatening Opioid Overdose in the Community Settings https://www.fda.gov/media/100409/download
- American Society of Addiction Medicine. Clinical Guidelines
https://www.asam.org/quality-care/clinical-guidelines
Medical Disclaimer:
ChoicePoint aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use disorder and mental health issues. Our team of licensed medical professionals research, edit and review the content before publishing. However, this information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For medical advice please consult your physicians or ChoicePoint's qualified staff.
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