As the opioid epidemic grew nationwide in recent years, the word Narcan quickly entered the lexicon. Narcan is the most commonly known brand name of naloxone, a drug that blocks the effects of an opioid overdose. It is commonly administered by emergency personnel as a nasal spray to prevent an impending death.
In New Jersey, the use of the drug accelerated in 2015, when the state negotiated a rebate program with the manufacturer to provide Narcan kits to state and local emergency personnel at a 20 percent discount. Under that program, Narcan administrations in New Jersey rose from 5,174 in 2014 to more than 10,000 in 2016, according to the office of the state attorney general.
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