Free Naloxone (Narcan) and Fentanyl Test Strips

What to Know about Fentanyl

In Washington state and across the U.S., illicit fentanyl and other powerful additives are making the drug supply more unpredictable and dangerous. Most overdose deaths in Washington state now involve fentanyl.

Keep your friends safe with naloxone, a medicine that reverses overdoses from opioids, including from fentanyl. Safe, legal, and effective, this medicine does not require training to use.

Here’s what you should know:

  • Fentanyl is a strong, fast-acting opioid, so overdoses can happen quickly.
  • Fentanyl can be added to fake prescription pills and other drugs or sold as a powder.
  • Even one pill or hit can be enough to cause a fatal overdose.
  • Naloxone, also known as Narcan, reverses opioid overdoses.
  • You don’t need any special training to carry or use naloxone.

Talk to your friends about the risks from the drug supply, so they can make informed choices about if and how they use. And carry naloxone with you, so you have what you need to reverse an opioid overdose.

Where to Get Naloxone and Fentanyl Test Strips at Clark

Clark keeps Naloxone (Narcan) and fentanyl test strips in stock at:

Basic Needs Hub

Location: GHL 204
Contact: Caitlin Malvar
Email: cmalvar@clark.edu
Phone: 360-992-2521

Counseling Health Center

Location: HSC 124
Contact: Marianne Luther
Email: mluther@clark.edu
Phone: 360-992-2264

Fitness Center

Location: OSC205
Contact: Dylan Leary
Email: dleary@clark.edu
Phone: 360-992-2185

PEC Center

Location: GHL 204
Contact: Dani Depuy-Grobbel
Email: ddepuy-grobbel@clark.edu
Phone: 360-992-2044

Security

Location: GHL118
Contact: Chris Layfield
Email: clayfield@clark.edu
Phone: 360-992-2413

Student Life

Location: PUB 160
Contact: Sarah Gruhler
Email: sgruhler@clark.edu
Phone: 360-992-2406

Welcome Center

Location: GHL 128
Contact: Amy Tam
Email: atam@clark.edu
Phone: 360-992-2770

What to Do if Someone is Experiencing an Overdose

  1. CALL 911: If your friend is unresponsive, not breathing, or turning blue or gray, call 911 right away.
  2. Give naxolone (Narcan): Give your friend one dose of naloxone every two to three minutes until their breathing is normal again. They should breathe once every three to five seconds. Do this even if you aren’t sure they took opioids.
  3. Give rescue breaths: After you give the first dose of naloxone, lay your friend flat on the ground, tip their chin back, and provide one rescue breath every five seconds. Check that their chest is rising and falling with each breath that you give.
  4. Stay until help arrives: When your friend wakes up, they may be confused or not feel good. They should not take any more drugs, and they should get medical attention. Naloxone wears off within 30 – 90 minutes. When it wears off, they may begin to overdose again. If you don’t call 911, stay with your friend in case the naloxone wears off and they overdose again.
  5. When all is said and done, remember to check in with yourself. You cared for your friend in a big way, and you deserve care too.

How to Give Someone Naloxone

  1. Open the packaging.
    Do not test the nasal spray. The canister only has one dose and cannot be reused.
  2. Hold the canister.
    Place your thumb on the bottom of the plunger and your first and middle fingers on either side of the nozzle.
  3. Insert the nozzle into the nostril.
    Your fingers on either side of the nozzle should touch the bottom of their nose.
  4. Press the plunger all the way.
    Remove the nasal spray after giving the dose.
Depending on the brand of fentanyl test strips you use, the instructions may be slightly different. Follow the instructions that come with your test strips. However, here’s how most tests work:
  1. Put a small amount (at least 10mg) of your drugs aside in a clean, dry container.
  2. Add water to the container and mix together. For most drugs, you need ½ teaspoon of water. If you are testing methamphetamines, MDMA, or ecstasy, use 1 full teaspoon for every 10 mg of crystal or powder you are testing.
  3. Place the wavy end of the test strip down in the water and let it absorb for about 15 seconds.
  4. Take the strip out of the water and place it on a flat surface for 2 to 5 minutes.
  5. Read results.
(Source: CDC)

FAQs

Why is Clark College giving out naloxone and fentanyl testing strips?

 In 2024, the state Legislature approved HB 2112 to help prevent opioid overdoses in Washington state. Among other things, the legislation requires higher education institutions to make free naloxone and fentanyl test strips available to students.

How to identify opioid overdose?

An opioid overdose may look like your friend has just fallen asleep, so it’s important to know the subtle signs of an overdose. Your friend may be overdosing if:

  • They can’t wake up
  • They aren’t breathing or are breathing infrequently
  • Their skin is cold, blue, or gray

If you think your friend has overdosed, call 911 right away and give them naloxone. Washington state’s Good Samaritan law protects you both from prosecution for simple drug possession.

How do I know if a drug contains fentanyl?

It is not possible to tell by a pill or powder’s look, taste, or smell whether it contains fentanyl. Illicit fentanyl does not have a unique look, taste, or smell to help identify it. On its own, it may appear white, off-white, or brownish in color—similar to heroin, cocaine, or other pressed pills.

The fake pills illicit fentanyl gets mixed into come in many colors, depending on the color of the real prescription pills they are mimicking. It is not possible to tell if a pill is real or fake unless you pick it up directly from a pharmacy yourself.

Will I get in legal trouble if I call 911 when my friend is overdosing?

No. In Washington state, people who call 911 to respond to an opioid overdose are protected from prosecution for simple drug possession by Good Samaritan law.

Prior to these laws being in effect, many people avoided calling emergency medical services because they are afraid of getting into trouble for having drugs with them. The goal of Good Samaritan law is for people to feel secure calling 911 to get professional medical support in the event of an overdose.

Good Samaritan Law

Besides naloxone, what can I do to keep my friends and I safe?

Tips to keep you and your friends safe:

  • Assume drugs you get anywhere other than a pharmacy or dispensary contain fentanyl. 

 

  • Use fentanyl testing strips (FTS) to check if the drugs you have contain fentanyl.

 

  • Avoid mixing drugs or mixing drugs and alcohol.
    • The chances of an overdose are higher when drugs are used in combination with one another or with alcohol.

 

Where should I go if I want to learn about treatment for substance abuse for me or a friend?

You can call or text the Washington Recovery Helpline at 1-866-789-1511, or visit their website.

Washington Recovery Helpline website


Washington Friends for Life