Arizona Overdose Response: A Guide for Families

Recognize the signs

How can I tell whether someone may be overdosing?

Treat the situation as an emergency when someone cannot be awakened, is not breathing normally, or has other signs of a possible overdose. You do not need to know exactly what the person took before calling 911.

Act immediately

What should I do during a suspected overdose?

Use these steps for a suspected opioid overdose or when you do not know which substances may be involved. Follow the 911 dispatcher’s directions and the instructions supplied with your naloxone product.

1. Check for danger and try to wake the person

   Make sure the area is safe to enter. Call the person’s name, tap their shoulder firmly, and check whether they are breathing normally. Do not put yourself in danger around traffic, weapons, fire, fumes, or loose powders.

2. Call 911

   Say that the person is unresponsive or not breathing normally and that you suspect an overdose. Give the exact location. Put the phone on speaker so you can continue helping and follow the dispatcher’s instructions.

3. Give naloxone as soon as possible

   If opioids could be involved, administer one dose. For a single-use nasal spray, lay the person on their back, support the neck, insert the nozzle into one nostril, and press the plunger firmly. Do not test or prime a single-use device. Product designs vary, so follow its label.

4. Support breathing

   Tell the 911 dispatcher immediately if the person is not breathing normally. Follow the dispatcher’s instructions for CPR or rescue breathing without delay. Use an automated external defibrillator, if available, and follow its spoken prompts.

5. Give another dose if there is no response

   If the person does not wake or breathe normally after 2–3 minutes, administer another naloxone dose using a new device, if available. Continue following the product instructions and the dispatcher’s directions until emergency responders arrive.

6. Stay with the person

   If breathing returns but the person remains unconscious, place them on their side with the top knee bent to reduce the risk of choking. Keep monitoring breathing. Reassure them if they wake. Do not offer or encourage additional substance use. Prioritize your safety and follow the dispatcher’s directions. Give used devices and any known substance information to emergency responders.

Naloxone basics

What Arizona families should know about naloxone

Naloxone is a medication that temporarily reverses an opioid overdose by blocking opioid effects. It can restore breathing when an overdose involves fentanyl, heroin, or prescription opioids. Naloxone will not reverse a non-opioid overdose, but giving it is appropriate when opioid involvement is possible or the substance is unknown.

Where can I get naloxone in Arizona?

Arizona residents can purchase over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray, ask a pharmacy about naloxone available under Arizona’s standing-order framework, or locate free kits through state and local programs. Availability and cost can vary, so call a location before traveling.

Find free naloxone and Arizona access information through ADHS. Pima County residents can also use the county’s naloxone location and education page.

How should naloxone be stored?

• Keep it accessible—not locked away or buried in a bag.
• Tell household members where it is and how to use it.
• Follow the package’s temperature and light-storage instructions; avoid prolonged Arizona vehicle heat.
• Check expiration dates regularly and replace expired devices.
• Carry at least two doses when possible.

When opioids may not be the only substance

What if the overdose involves stimulants, alcohol, or an unknown drug?

Not every overdose looks like opioid poisoning. Methamphetamine, cocaine, alcohol, sedatives, counterfeit pills, and combinations of substances can cause different emergencies. Because fentanyl may be present unexpectedly, give naloxone when opioid exposure is possible—but still call 911 because naloxone does not reverse other drug effects.

Prepare before an emergency

How can our family reduce overdose risk?

A calm, practical conversation can make it easier to respond. Focus on safety rather than blame, punishment, or assumptions about who is at risk.

• Keep naloxone in known, easy-to-reach locations at home and when traveling.
• Make sure at least two people know how to recognize an overdose and use the product you carry.
• Replace expired naloxone and restock immediately after it is used.
• Discuss the increased overdose risk after detoxification, hospitalization, incarceration, residential treatment, or any period of reduced use because tolerance may be lower.
• Discuss the danger of combining opioids with alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other sedating substances.
• Assume pills not obtained directly from a licensed pharmacy may contain fentanyl or another unexpected substance.
• Encourage the person not to use substances alone and to ensure someone can call for help.
• Ask a licensed clinician about evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder, including medications such as buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone when clinically appropriate.
• Save 911, Arizona’s OARLine, and trusted treatment contacts in family members’ phones.

Arizona and national resources

Where can families find immediate help and naloxone?

What does Arizona’s Good Samaritan law cover?

As of July 2026, Arizona’s Good Samaritan law provides limited protection from certain possession, use, paraphernalia, and preparatory-offense charges when a person, in good faith, seeks medical assistance for someone experiencing a drug-related overdose and the evidence results from that request. The law has limits and does not prevent investigation or prosecution of every possible offense. The official statute currently lists a July 1, 2028 repeal date, so review the linked text for current law. Never delay calling 911 because of fear or uncertainty about legal consequences. See the current text of A.R.S. § 13-3423.

Print and complete

Our family overdose response plan

Complete this plan together and post it somewhere easy to find. Review it whenever naloxone expires or household circumstances change.

Frequently asked questions

Questions Arizona families ask about naloxone and overdose