Need Narcan? Here are five places to get it free and six pharmacies where you can buy it

Emilia Cardona, The Gardner News
Updated ·4 min read

Narcan is a life-saving drug, and while the federal Food and Drug Administration approved the retail sale of it, many people can not afford it.

Narcan is an opioid reversal agent used on anyone who is suspected to be overdosing on opioids. Anyone can administer it, and instructions are included with every package. Medical professionals recommend administering one 4mg nasal spray dose in either nostril every two to three minutes until the person suspected of overdosing wakes up.

It's not harmful to administer Narcan to a person who is not overdosing. Regardless of whether the person is overdosing or not, the most common side effects of Narcan are headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, sweating, body aches, muscle tension, palpitations, tremors, shivering, anxiety, and fidgeting.

Massachusetts law does not require first responders to carry naloxone. However, the first responder staff at the Gardner police and fire departments decided to carry naloxone at all times.

Who can distribute naloxone?

The FDA approved the retail sale of Narcan and the generic version, naloxone, without a prescription on March 29, 2023. By September 2023, all pharmacies were required to carry a supply of naloxone rescue kits.

Currently, in the commonwealth, only organizations, entities, programs, first responder departments, pharmacies, and community personnel who maintain an active Massachusetts Controlled Substance Registration (MCSR) for naloxone can distribute Narcan.

Where to buy naloxone?

The average cost of naloxone is $44.99 for a pack of two 4 mg nasal spray doses. Here is a list of all state-licensed retail pharmacies in the area required to have a continuous and sufficient supply of naloxone rescue kits for customers. There is no age restriction for buying naloxone.

  • Chair City Pharmacy at 34 Connors St. in Gardner

  • CVS Pharmacy at 314 Main St in Gardner and 301 Central St. in Winchendon

  • Price Chopper Pharmacy at 560 Main St. in Gardner

  • Walgreens Pharmacy at 232 Main St. in Gardner and 207 Central St. in Winchendon

  • Walmart Supercenter Pharmacy at 677 Timpany Blvd. in Gardner

  • Westminster Pharmacy at 128 Main St. in Westminster

The average cost of a two-dose pack of Narcan sold at every state-licensed retail pharmacy is $44.99. No prescription is required and there is no age restriction to purchase Narcan.
The average cost of a two-dose pack of Narcan sold at every state-licensed retail pharmacy is $44.99. No prescription is required and there is no age restriction to purchase Narcan.

Where to get Narcan for free or at a low cost?

According to the Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Addiction, people insured by Medicare and MassHealth can either get over-the-counter Narcan covered in full or are required to pay a co-pay of up to $35. Likewise, private insurance will cover the full cost of Narcan or require a co-pay.

Regardless of whether someone has medical insurance or not, prescription medicine coupons and discount websites like GoodRX Health may be the best low-cost option. These websites compare prices from all pharmacies in the area to give you the best price and show which ones offer deals on over-the-counter or prescription medicines.

Even with medical insurance and coupons, naloxone can still be expensive. However, Alyssa's Place at 297 Central St. in Gardner is an active MCSR organization that distributes free naloxone. Anyone who wants to carry it can get free doses from them during business hours: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 8 p.m.

Michelle Dunn, the Pathway House Director of Community Engagement, said she believes everyone should be carrying Narcan in the same way everyone should know first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Dunn said people with loved ones who are struggling with addiction are limited in what they can do to help their loved one, but with Narcan, they can have control in case of an overdose.

"It saves lives, gives people the opportunity to try again, and gives them another day to get better," she said. "We are removing barriers, and people have a lot more access to Narcan now. We give it out for free with training on how to use it."

In addition to Alyssa's Place, five full-service programs distribute free naloxone doses only a short drive from Greater Gardner. Here are the following organizations that distribute free naloxone:

  • Community Health Center of Franklin County at 119 New Athol Rd. in Orange.

  • Fitchburg Community Health Connections at 326 Nichols Rd. in Fitchburg.

  • ACTION Community Health Center at 130 Water St. in Fitchburg.

  • City of Fitchburg Health Department Outreach and Prevention at 14 Wallace Ave in Fitchburg.

  • Montachusett Recovery Foundation Corp. at 106 Carter St. in Leominster.

Can I use expired Narcan?

Medical professionals said it is safe to use expired Narcan, and they encourage people to use expired Narcan if that's all they have. Expired naloxone will not hurt the suspected overdose victim, but it may be ineffective.

The shelf-life of naloxone is three to four years if it is not exposed to extreme heat or below-freezing temperatures. If naloxone is not properly stored, its shelf life is one year.

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Where to get naloxone for free or at a low cost in and around Gardner