Where should Narcan be applied in a patient?

Narcan, or naloxone, is a medication primarily used to counteract opioid overdoses. The recommended route for administration in an emergency situation is intranasal, meaning it should be applied in the nostrils. This method is preferred for its ease of use and effectiveness in quickly delivering the medication into the bloodstream through the nasal mucosa, leading to rapid onset of action.

When administering Narcan, you would use a pre-filled device that delivers a specific dose into each nostril. This is particularly advantageous in emergency scenarios where intravenous or intramuscular routes may not be feasible due to time constraints or the need for specialized training. In contrast, routes such as injection in the arm or thigh, or oral administration in the mouth, are not the first choices for urgent response to opioid overdose because they either do not provide the rapid absorption needed or require more technical skill and time to administer effectively.