Stay Ready.

The supply is unpredictable.
Your safety doesn’t have to be.

Today's drug supply is changing fast. Fentanyl, xylazine, and other substances can show up in drugs without warning. Overdose can happen to anyone, especially when tolerance is lower after incarceration, treatment, or time away from using.

Protect yourself and your people:

01

Carry Narcan^®.

Keep it on you and make sure the people around you know where it is.

02

Test Before You Use.

You can't see fentanyl, xylazine or other substances. Test strips help you know what's in your supply.

03

Don't Use Alone.

Tell somebody where you are, use with someone you trust, or connect to a virtual monitoring service.

04

Start Small.

New supply? Returning after a break? Use less than usual and go slow.

Did you know?

About

0%

of fatal overdoses happen when a person is alone.
Staying connected to someone who can respond in an emergency can save a life.

Download the Overdose Prevention Fact Sheet to learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find Narcan (Naloxone) or testing equipment near me?

Narcan or the generic Naloxone may be available at:

Harm Reduction & Street Outreach Programs: The Puerto Rico Project (PRP), Chicago Recovery, Alliance (CRA), and Southside Heroin/Opioid Task Force.
Public Access: CDPH Vending Machines (locations, PIN codes and other information), public health vending machines (select CTA stations/libraries), community clinics, and most Chicago Public Libraries.
Pharmacies: Available in Illinois without a prescription (costs may vary).

Many of these options provide Naloxone for free.

What is Naloxone (Narcan)?

Naloxone (Narcan) is a medication that reverses opioid overdoses. Note that multiple doses may be needed. Naloxone works on opioids like fentanyl but does not reverse the effects of xylazine or other non-opioid substances, but it should still always be used during a suspected overdose, as opioids are often present even when other substances are involved. See above for locations where you can get Naloxone.

What is fentanyl?

Fentanyl and its analogs are synthetic opioids. It’s often found in opioids, stimulants, and counterfeit pills, and even a very small amount puts someone at high risk for an overdose. Mixing drugs or alcohol (especially opioids, benzodiazepines, or alcohol) greatly increases overdose risk.

Can I test my drugs for fentanyl and other substances?

Yes. Test strips can be used to check for fentanyl, xylazine, benzodiazepines and other substances in your supply. See above for locations where you can get the testing supplies.

And to learn how to use the test strips, click on the link: Fentanyl test strip instruction sheet

Note: Naloxone works on opioids like fentanyl but does not reverse the effects of substances like xylazine—however, it should still always be used, as it can counteract the effects of opioids that may be present.

What should I do if someone overdoses?

1) Give Naloxone (Narcan) right away, 2) call 911 and 3) stay with the person. Provide rescue breathing and monitor their response. If the person is still not responding after a few minutes, give another dose of Naloxone and continue rescue breathing.

If Naloxone is not available, start rescue breathing right away.

Note that overdose becomes fatal because the body is not getting enough oxygen because opioids slow or stop breathing. Time is critical: brain damage can begin within about 3–5 minutes without oxygen, and longer periods without oxygen can lead to coma, brain injury, or death.

Will calling for help lead to my arrest?

No, Illinois Good Samaritan law may provide protection from arrest for drug possession when calling for help during an overdose.

Are harm reductions programs confidential?

Yes, most programs are confidential, but it's always okay to ask to be sure. Harm reduction programs like CRA and PRP are anonymous and create a unique identifier for each person instead of using personal information. This allows services to be tracked while making it difficult for anyone to determine a person's identity.