Narcan & Test Strips

Naloxone is a non-addictive medication used for known or suspected opioid overdoses. It is an opioid antagonist (blocker) that stops opioids from binding to the opioid receptors in the brain, thus countering the effects of opioid overdose. Common opioids include heroin, fentanyl, morphine, codeine and oxycodone. 

Naloxone is available in the form of a prepackaged nasal spray (commonly known by the brand name Narcan). 

If you or a loved one have an opioid prescription, or are struggling with opioid use, you can consider obtaining Narcan to keep on hand.

Anyone obtaining any illicit substance (e.g., prescription medication purchased from the internet), may also consider keeping Narcan on hand. There has been an increase in substances laced with fentanyl, and individuals using these substances can unknowingly suffer from an opioid overdose.

Carrying Narcan or having it on hand provides an extra layer of protection for those at a higher risk for overdose. 

There are little to no side effects associated with Narcan. It is important to note however that individuals who are physically dependent on opioids can experience withdrawal symptoms after Narcan is administered. Withdrawal symptoms may include fever, anxiety, irritability, rapid heart rate, sweating, nausea, vomiting, and tremors.

No, narcan is administered to an individual after an overdose has occurred. Because the individual who overdosed is likely unconscious and/or their movement and breathing may be restricted, they would need assistance. If you have no one around you, use the Never Use Alone Hotline.

This product is only available to members of the SJSU community, this means SJSU students, staff, and faculty. 

Santa Clara County residents that are not part of the SJSU community can obtain narcan at no cost through Santa Clara County’s Sexual Health and Harm Reduction Program. Please visit their website to learn about locations and hours in which you can pick up the product. 

In addition to the Student Wellness Center, Narcan can also be obtained at no cost through Santa Clara County’s Sexual Health and Harm Reduction Program. Visit the program’s website to learn more. 

Narcan can also be purchased through the Student Wellness Center Pharmacy and local pharmacies. 

For anyone outside of Santa Clara County, visit the National Harm Reduction Coalition to learn about harm reduction resources near you.

Senate Bill (SB) 367, known as the Campus Opioid Safety Act is a policy within the state of California that requires college campuses to provide educational and preventative information about opioid overdose, information about the use and location of reversal medication such as Narcan, and to participate in the Department of Health Care Services' Naloxone Distribution Program.

Fentanyl test strips are a tool that can be used to help prevent drug overdoses and reduce harm, by detecting the presence of fentanyl in all different kinds of drugs (cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, etc.) and drug forms (pills, powder, and injectables). Please note, while fentanyl test strips are a helpful tool to reduce the harm of consuming fentanyl laced substances, they do not guarantee that the substance being consumed is completely fentanyl-free.

Take a look at the graphic below from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - testing your substances with fentanyl test strips is like a chocolate chip cookie - depending on where you bite, there will be different amounts of chocolate chips and no two chocolate chip cookies are exactly the same. Similarly, when you test part of a substance with a fentanyl test strip, that particular section that you tested may not have any fentanyl, but that does not mean other sections will also be fentanyl-free.

There are various brands of test strips and each one is a little different; be sure to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer in order to read the test correctly.

In general though, test strips will require you to put a small amount of the drug in a container, add water, mix, insert the strip, wait a short amount of time, and then read the results.   

When reading the results:

If you receive a positive result, it is safer to discard the batch. Fentanyl is a potent substance and usage can result in an overdose

If you receive a negative result, proceed with caution. No test is 100% accurate and your drugs may still contain fentanyl (remember the chocolate chip cookie effect).

If you get an invalid result, test your drugs again using a new strip.

A limited stock of fentanyl test strips are available through the Student Wellness Center for all members of the SJSU community. The test strips are free and can be picked up in the Wellness Lounge during normal business hours (Monday-Thursday: 10am-4pm; Friday: 1pm-4pm).

Test strips are also available for free through:

Santa Clara County’s Sexual Health and Harm Reduction Program. Please visit their website to learn more.

Santa Clara County’s Q-Corner. Visit their website to learn more.

Test strips can also be purchased through reputable online and at your local pharmacy.

In addition to using fentanyl test strips, below are other ways to lower your risk of overdose and keep you and others safe:

Keep naloxone readily available on you and at home.

Avoid mixing drugs.

Don’t rely on a previous source or experience, each batch is not guaranteed to be identical.

Never use drugs alone. Make sure the people around you are aware when you have used a substance in case they need to give you naloxone or call for emergency assistance. If you have no one around you, use the Never Use Alone Hotline.

It’s okay to ask for help.

Assemble Bill (AB) 461, is a policy within the state of California that requires college campuses to provide educational and preventative information about opioid overdose and information about the use and location of fentanyl test strips and opioid reversal medication to students. 

Test strips will detect Ketamine, GHB, Scopolamine, Cocaine, and other “amine” based drugs. 

Salty or bitter taste

Foggy/cloudy appearance of drink when it was clear before

Excessive bubble, especially if the drink was non-carbonated

Change in color of the drink’s original color 

Feeling “out of it” or drunker than expected 

Confused, woozy or drowsy 

Speech difficulties 

Memory loss

Loss of inhibitions 

Nausea and vomiting 

Loss of consciousness 

A severe hangover when you drank little or no alcohol 

Don’t accept drinks from others

Watch your drink being made or open your drink yourself

Be cautious of drinks in large containers or punch bowls 

Don’t drink anything that looks or smells strange 

Wipe off rim of opened drinks or glasses before drinking 

Leave with the people you went out with and have a designated “sober” person in the group

Assembly Bill (AB) 1524 is a policy within the state of California that requires college campuses to provide drug testing devices (test strips) for students.