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How to get free naloxone in Philadelphia on Thursday

The kits will be available at dozens of locations across Pennsylvania, including 12 in the Philadelphia region.

Allison Herens, harm reduction coordinator for the City of Philadelphia, demonstrates how to use Narcan during a training session.
Allison Herens, harm reduction coordinator for the City of Philadelphia, demonstrates how to use Narcan during a training session.Read moreJOSE F. MORENO / Staff Photographer

People across Pennsylvania will be able to pick up naloxone at no cost Thursday as part of the Wolf administration’s “Stop Overdoses in Pa.: Get Help Now” week.

Naloxone, which can used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, is a “lifesaving medication” that’s "essential for all of us to have on hand, particularly if you have a loved one suffering from opioid-use disorder,” Gov. Wolf said in a statement.

The drug will be available for pickup at dozens of locations, including 12 in the Philadelphia area. Here’s what you need to know before getting yours.

Are Narcan and naloxone the same thing?

The words are often used interchangeably, though Narcan, a nasal spray, is a brand name of the drug naloxone. Evzio, an auto-injector, is also a brand name of naloxone.

What will I be picking up Thursday?

The Wolf administration will be giving away naloxone “kits” that come with two doses of the drug in nasal spray form, said Sara Goulet, deputy press secretary. The kits will be limited to one per person.

Do I need to bring anything with me?

The kit will be free for all Pennsylvania residents. No need to show an ID, according to the state.

Where and when can I pick up naloxone?

Those interested can grab a kit at four locations in Philadelphia, three each in Bucks and Montgomery Counties, one in Chester County, and one in Delaware County.

Philadelphia (all from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)

  1. Holmesburg Branch Library, 7810 Frankford Ave., Holmesburg.

  2. Lucien E. Blackwell West Branch Library, 125 S. 52nd St., West Philadelphia.

  3. McPherson Square Branch Library, 601 E. Indiana Ave., Kensington.

  4. South Philadelphia Branch Library, 1700 S. Broad St.

Bucks County (all from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

  1. Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission, 600 Louis Dr., Suite 102A, Warminster.

  2. Southern Bucks Recovery Community Center, 1286 Veterans Highway, Suite 6D, Bristol.

  3. Quakertown Branch of the Bucks County Free Library, 401 W. Mill St., Quakertown.

Chester County (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

  1. Chester County Department of Health, 601 Westtown Rd., Suite 290, West Chester.

Delaware County (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)

  1. Delaware County State Health Center, 151 W. Fifth St., Suite 1, Chester.

Montgomery County (all from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

  1. Montgomery County Office of Public Health,  Norristown Center, 1430 DeKalb St., Norristown.

  2. Montgomery County Office of Public Health, Pottstown Center, 364 King St., Pottstown.

  3. Montgomery County Office of Public Health, Willow Grove Center, 102 Old York Rd., Suite 401, Willow Grove.

You can find the complete list of locations on the state’s website.

How else can I get naloxone?

If you can’t pick up a kit Thursday, the state notes that naloxone is also available at most pharmacies throughout the year, though you may need to order it in advance. Your doctor can prescribe the drug, or you can download the state’s standing order online.

How do I use naloxone?

Naloxone can be used if someone is displaying signs of an overdose, including unresponsiveness, slow breathing, and/or small pupils, according to Secretary of Health Rachel Levine.

You can watch Levine demonstrate how to use naloxone, both in spray and injectable forms, in the video below.

Other organizations, including Prevention Point and the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDA), have their own training sessions you can attend.

Prevention Point, 2913 Kensington Ave., will host its next overdose-reversal training on Friday, Dec. 14, from 3 to 5 p.m.

DBHIDA will hold its next overdose and rescue training on the seventh floor of 801 Market St. on Wednesday, Dec. 19, from 10 a.m. until noon.