Naloxone is an opioid antagonist medication that rapidly reverses the effects of an opioid overdose by displacing opioids from receptors in the brain. Its most life-saving action is restoring normal breathing in someone whose respiration has slowed or stopped due to opioids such as heroin, fentanyl, or prescription painkillers.

Available as an injection or nasal spray, naloxone works within minutes and is widely carried by first responders and increasingly by the public. Because its effects can wear off before the opioid does, repeat doses and emergency medical follow-up are often necessary. In a suspected overdose with no pulse, CPR remains the priority alongside naloxone administration.

CPR Certification Labs provides hands-on, American Heart Association–aligned CPR, BLS, ACLS, and PALS certification training to help providers master these life-saving skills.