Narcan and Harm Reduction in Ocean County, NJ

What is naloxone (Narcan), and why carry it?

Naloxone — sold under the brand name Narcan, among others — is a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose by temporarily blocking opioids in the brain. It is given as a nasal spray or injection, and the package explains how to use it. Training takes only a few minutes.

Ocean County averages 5 fatal or non-fatal overdoses per day, and in the first seven months of 2024 Narcan was administered 301 more times. Overdose deaths in the county are falling — from 245 at the 2020 peak to 168 in 2023 — and wider access to naloxone is part of that story. Anyone who uses drugs, lives with someone who does, or works with the public can carry it.

Does naloxone work on xylazine?

Xylazine is a sedative, not an opioid, so naloxone does not reverse its effects. But it is almost never found alone: according to NJ Cares, 99% of drug seizures containing xylazine also contained fentanyl. Naloxone still reverses the fentanyl part of the overdose, so always give it and always call 911.

The NJ Department of Health reports that the majority of New Jersey overdose deaths involve fentanyl or its analogs, increasingly complicated by xylazine and medetomidine. If fentanyl is part of the picture for someone you love, read about fentanyl addiction treatment and what to look for in a program.

Who should carry naloxone?

Anyone can, and more people should. Naloxone is worth keeping on hand if you:

• Use opioids, or use any drug that could be contaminated with fentanyl.
• Live with, care for or spend time with someone who does.
• Have a family member returning home after detox, rehab or incarceration, when tolerance can be lower than before.
• Work with the public — at a bar, a restaurant, a shore business, a school, a gym or a library.

Keep it somewhere easy to reach, tell the people around you where it is, and check the expiration date now and then. A kit in a drawer only helps if someone knows it is there.

Where can I get free Narcan in Ocean County?

There are two easy, no-cost options:

• Naloxone365. Free naloxone with no prescription, anonymously, for anyone age 14 or older, at 650+ participating New Jersey pharmacies. Just ask at the pharmacy counter.
• Ocean County Health Department. Free Narcan kits plus a quick training session. Call 732-341-9700 ext. 7285. The health department's main lines are 732-341-9700 and 800-342-9738.

If you are not sure which pharmacy near you participates, call ahead and ask whether it takes part in Naloxone365.

Is there a harm reduction vending machine in Toms River?

Yes. On July 31, 2026, the Prevention Resource Network — part of the VNA of Central Jersey — launched Ocean County's first harm reduction vending machine, outside the Suburban Health Clinic in Toms River.

It is available 24/7 and dispenses naloxone, sterile syringes, test strips and wound care supplies. A syringe-return kiosk sits right beside it. No appointment, no conversation required — which is the point for people who are not ready to talk to anyone yet.

What are test strips and wound care supplies for?

Fentanyl test strips let a person check a drug sample for fentanyl before using it. A positive result is a warning to not use alone, to go slower, or to not use at all. Wound care supplies matter because xylazine has been linked to serious skin wounds, and early cleaning and covering can keep a small wound from becoming a medical emergency. Any wound that is spreading, very painful or not healing needs a doctor.

Harm reduction is not the same as treatment, and it is not meant to be. It keeps people alive and connected to services until they are ready for the next step — and many people do take that step.

When does the PRN mobile harm reduction unit visit Brick and Toms River?

The Prevention Resource Network's mobile harm reduction unit visits Ocean County on a weekly schedule:

• Brick: Mondays, 9 AM–2 PM
• Toms River: Tuesdays, 10 AM–2 PM

PRN also runs a fixed site at 816 Sunset Ave in Asbury Park, open Monday through Friday, 9 AM–4 PM, phone (732) 502-5110. Mobile schedules can change, so call before making a trip.

How are opioid settlement funds being used in Ocean County?

Ocean County has received about $8.98 million in opioid settlement funds since 2022. According to the county's 2025 abatement report, the money supports programs including Bright Harbor Healthcare's REAL Team, which logged 2,690 service encounters and distributed 913 harm-reduction kits, and peer recovery support through the Sea Change Recovery Community Organization.

Peer support matters because it is often a person with lived experience — not a form or a phone tree — who helps someone take the next step.

What should I do if I think someone is overdosing?

Signs can include unresponsiveness, slow or stopped breathing, blue or gray lips or fingertips, and pinpoint pupils. If you see them:

• Call 911 right away.
• Give naloxone following the package instructions.
• Stay with the person until help arrives, and follow the dispatcher's instructions.

New Jersey's Overdose Prevention Act provides certain legal protections to people who call for help during an overdose, so fear of trouble should not stop anyone from calling. Afterward, it is normal to feel shaken. The helping a loved one guide covers what families can do next.

What comes after an overdose reversal?

Naloxone buys time. Treatment is what turns that time into recovery. For most people using opioids, the first step is medically supervised detox, followed by residential or outpatient care at a licensed program.

Placement advisors at True Pathway Center can verify insurance and connect you with licensed programs in our referral network that fit the person's substance, needs and plan. There is no pressure and no obligation. When you're ready, we're available 24/7 at (732) 527-3250. In a crisis, call or text 988; in a medical emergency, call 911.