Naloxone Access in Baltimore City
Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, is a life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses. It is easy to use, and there are no side effects if used on someone who is not experiencing an overdose. Naloxone/Narcan is free of charge through our Overdose Response Program. It is also available over the counter and can be purchased at a pharmacy.
Baltimore City’s Standing Order: A Blanket Prescription
On October 1, 2015, former Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen issued a jurisdiction-wide standing order for naloxone. This allowed the medication to be dispensed by pharmacies and overdose response program employees or volunteers. The standing order serves as a blanket prescription for all City residents, meaning you can buy naloxone from a pharmacy without getting an individualized prescription from your doctor. Baltimore City was the first jurisdiction in Maryland to expand access to naloxone using a standing order.
As of June 1, 2017, no training is required before purchase: anyone in Maryland can get naloxone from a pharmacy without a prescription or training certificate. Baltimore residents may use the State’s standing order issued by Howard Haft, Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services, DHMH.
Today, you can receive Narcan from any MDH-registered Overdose Response Program or Syringe Service Program. With the addition of the STOP Act enacted across Maryland, there are multiple ways to receive naloxone at no cost.
How to Use Naloxone
Non-Fatal Overdose Spike Response
The Non-Fatal Overdose Spike Alert and Response System was developed in partnership with the Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD). A spike is defined as three or more non-fatal overdoses in one census tract within a single day. When such a spike is detected, BCHD sends a spike alert to community-based organizations that have opted in. Street-based outreach teams are then dispatched to distribute naloxone in the affected areas.
EMS Naloxone Leave-Behind Program
The Naloxone Leave-Behind Program is a joint effort between the Maryland Department of Health and the Baltimore City Fire Department. It enables first responders to leave naloxone with patients and their support systems during overdose-related 911 calls in Baltimore City. This ensures that life-saving resources are available whether or not the patient chooses to go to the hospital. By distributing naloxone directly to those who are most likely to use it in emergencies, the program effectively targets those in need, even when the number of non-fatal overdoses in an area is not significant enough to trigger a spike response. So far, EMS providers have distributed or left behind over 1,500 naloxone kits to family members, friends, and other residents at the scene.
