The County of Santa Clara will ship its residents Narcan—a nasal spray that treats an opioid overdose—for free upon request as part of a new program launched last month.
The drug, which usually costs between $70 to $150 out of pocket, is also stocked in Santa Clara County libraries for free.
Since the program’s launch Dec. 1, the county has distributed about 60 doses of Narcan by mail, according to county officials.
Additionally, in the past five years, Santa Clara County recorded 629 drug overdose deaths—with more than 400 of those involving fentanyl, a strong synthetic opioid.
The county has ramped up efforts to curb opioid overdose since two infants in the county died of fentanyl overdose last year in two separate incidents.
Last May, 3-month-old Phoenix Castro died due to exposure to fentanyl. On Jan. 5, her father pleaded not guilty to charges of felony child endangerment and misdemeanor drug possession charges. The baby’s mother died four months after her death due to a fentanyl overdose.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s fiscal 2023–24 state budget included a requirement for California middle and high schools to stock at least two doses of Narcan on campus.
The drug was approved for over-the-counter distribution by the Food and Drug Administration in March. In September, it became available to purchase at drug stores without a prescription.
