Georgetown makes Narcan (generic name naloxone) available free of charge to promote the health and safety of university community members and to support the response to the national opioid epidemic.
What is Narcan?
Narcan nasal spray is an over-the-counter life-saving medicine that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. Narcan can be easily administered by first responders or a bystander. It works by blocking the effects of an opioid, such as in a person whose breathing has slowed or even stopped. It can restore normal breathing within 2-3 minutes. If you’re unsure if an individual has overdosed on an opioid, naloxone won’t harm someone, so it’s best to administer it as soon as possible. If an individual has overdosed on another drug, such as alcohol, although naloxone will not harm them, it won’t help them.
Should I carry Narcan?
In the District of Columbia, local government and community organizations are working together to combat the opioid epidemic. By learning how to administer and carry Narcan, you have the potential to save a life. Even if you don’t know anyone using opioids, you never know when you may encounter someone in need of this life-saving medicine.
Where can I find Narcan on campus?
Narcan is available at no charge to Georgetown faculty, staff and students. You will not be asked to provide your name or identification when picking up a kit.
Hilltop Campus:
- Pick a kit up at the Office of Neighborhood Life during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.)
- Visit the vending machine in the lobby of the Student Health Center and follow the instructions on the machine.
- Student Health Center Front Desk (Students Only): Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Hoya Hub: 4th floor of the Leavey Center, in room 418, using the punch code lock
- Office of Residential Living: Take a kit from the box in the Harbin Key Room via GoCard access Monday-Sunday 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
Capitol Campus:
- Student Health Center Front Desk (Students Only)
- Take a kit from the box in the lobby of 500 First Street NW
- Student Health Center Vending Machine (Coming fall 2025)
What if I need Narcan in an emergency?
Hilltop Campus: Call 202-687-4343. GUPD officers and GERMS personnel have access to Narcan.
Capitol Campus: Call 202-662-9325. Capitol Campus public safety officers have access to Narcan.
How do I use naloxone? Can I get training?
The DC Department of Behavioral Health offers an online training that you can complete on your own, at any time.
To register your interest for an in-person training on campus, please complete this form. A member of the Public Health team will be in touch with more information.
Where else can I obtain Narcan?
You can get Narcan at a local pharmacy (there may be a cost; check your insurance). In the District of Columbia, naloxone is available in every ward for free without an ID or prescription at specific locations.
How can I learn more about the opioid epidemic and the Georgetown community’s efforts?
Several groups at Georgetown are working to contribute to this effort by raising awareness and providing education and training.
The Hoya Drug Overdose Prevention and Education (DOPE) Project is a medical student group that works closely with the DC Department of Behavioral Health (DCBH) to provide training to community members at high risk of an overdose. In addition to conducting trainings on recognizing signs of overdose and naloxone usage, they also distribute naloxone provided by DCBH to the community members whom they train. Reach out to the group’s leaders at hoya.dope.project@gmail.com.
The Center for Social Justice’s Homelessness and Outreach Meals and Education (HOME) promotes human dignity and respect for people experiencing homelessness through awareness-building, advocacy campaigns and direct service opportunities. As part of HOME’s direct service programming, the street outreach team has naloxone available for distribution to unhoused individuals in the Georgetown and Capitol Campus neighborhoods.
The Center on Addiction and Public Policy at Georgetown Law’s O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health works to advance public policy that promotes a public health approach to substance use disorders.
The Master of Science in Addiction Policy and Practice at Georgetown University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is a one-year multidisciplinary program. Since 2021, the program has been educating students about the science of addiction as well as providing policy making skills, in an effort to build the addiction policy workforce.
Hoyas for Recovery is a student-led group at Georgetown University supporting members of the Georgetown University community who are in recovery from substance use disorder. The group holds regular outings in the DC community and meetings are held monthly on campus. More information can be found on @hoyas_for_recovery, or by reaching out to the group’s leaders at hoyasforrecovery@georgetown.edu.