Opioids
Naloxone (Narcan)
Street names: Narcan, Kloxxado, Nyxoid, The opioid antidote
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- STrips opioids from receptors in 2–3 minutes — reverses overdose breathing within minutes
- No effect on non-opioid drugs; no high; safe to give even if unsure
⚠Key risks
- Short half-life (30–90 min) vs fentanyl's hours — the person CAN RE-OVERDOSE as it wears off. Stay and repeat
- Precipitates withdrawal in dependent users — expect anger, vomiting, pain (they're alive — that's the point)
- Higher-potency opioids (nitazenes, carfentanil) may need 4–10+ doses
- Does NOT reverse xylazine (but still give it for the fentanyl half)
✚Overdose signs
- (Overdose signs it treats): unresponsive, pinpoint pupils, slow/gurgling breathing, blue lips
Category comparison — Opioids
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naloxone (Narcan) | Not controlled — OTC | Short half-life (30–90 min) vs fentanyl's hours — the person CAN RE-OVERDOSE as it wears off. Stay and repeat; Precipitates withdrawal in dependent users — expect anger, vomiting, pain (they're alive — that's the point) | US OTC ~$45 |
| Heroin | Schedule I | Extremely addictive — physical dependence in weeks; Overdose: breathing slows or stops | ~$10–$40 per bag |
| Fentanyl | Schedule II | Respiratory depression; Addiction in days | ~$20–$40 per counterfeit pill |
| Fentanyl HCl (powder) | Schedule II / analogue prosecutions | Lab-purity powder is far stronger than street mixes; Weighing errors are fatal | ~$60–$120/gram wholesale equivalent |
| Acetylfentanyl | Schedule I | ~5–15× weaker than fentanyl but still deadly at gram-level mistakes; Frequent cause of cluster overdoses | ~$25–$60/g where found |
| Furanylfentanyl (Fu-F) | Schedule I | Linked to hundreds of fatal overdoses 2016–2018; Potency similar to fentanyl | ~$20–$50/g |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does Naloxone (Narcan) look like?
4 mg nasal sprays (Narcan), 8 mg (Kloxxado), 0.4–2 mg injectable ampoules, auto-injectors
What are the signs of a Naloxone (Narcan) overdose?
(Overdose signs it treats): unresponsive, pinpoint pupils, slow/gurgling breathing, blue lips Call emergency services immediately and give naloxone if available — it reverses opioid overdoses.
How addictive is it?
Short half-life (30–90 min) vs fentanyl's hours — the person CAN RE-OVERDOSE as it wears off. Stay and repeat Dependence can develop with regular use.