Ramsey County Public Health on Monday announced the launch of a pilot program offering two free doses of the drug naloxone to residents.

Naloxone, which is more commonly known by its trade name Narcan, is designed to reverse the deadly effects of an opioid overdose.

Residents can fill out a form on the county’s website to receive a kit containing two doses of naloxone nasal spray, sanitary breathing barriers, gloves and instructions on how to use them, according to a county news release. The kits, which are funded by Minnesota’s settlements with opioid companies, will be mailed to residents’ homes.

“If you, your family or friends or someone you know could benefit from having naloxone on hand, please order a kit today,” Public Health Director Sara Hollie said in the news release.

The county has a limited supply of the kits, so Hollie asked that residents order the kits only if they believe they are likely to encounter an overdose.

“We want to make sure individuals and communities most impacted by the opioid epidemic have naloxone available, so they can stop an overdose,” Hollie said. “We’ll be assessing the demand and community interest in this first phase of the pilot to guide future steps.”

In 2023 alone, opioids — which include drugs like include heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone and fentanyl — have caused 142 overdose deaths in Ramsey County through Sept. 30.

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