Narcan, also known as Naloxone, is an intranasal spray used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Narcan is a synthetic morphine derivative created from oxymorphone and it is used after opioids have overwhelmed breathing receptors in the brain and induced respiratory
depression.
Today, Narcan is widely distributed and known as a fundamental preventative to the
fentanyl epidemic. It can be found on university campuses, pharmacies, and clinics throughout the country, and first responders are trained and prepared to administer Narcan in emergency situations.
Graduating senior and incoming college freshman Genevieve Kohlmyer ’25 recollected her experience touring college campuses: “I have encountered Narcan available in student service areas, along with posters showing students where to find help. The availability of life saving measures on campus makes me feel safer as a student.”
Currently, under the Trump administration, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy and the Office of Management and Budget may be planning to cut funding for programs that distribute Narcan to first responders and train them to deal with overdose.
This decision is not publicly confirmed; however, insight to this alleged change come from the Trump administration’s proposed cuts for the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are reported by credible news outlets such as the Washington Post, The New York Times, and Inside Medicine.
These possible funding cuts are an issue because Narcan is a key component in the fight against fentanyl. Data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2024 reported a 14.3 percent decrease in overdose deaths in California. Despite this slight improvement, the fentanyl crisis is not dwindling. Out of 118 accidental drug overdoses between January and February of 2025, 86 were caused directly by fentanyl.
The primary danger of accidental overdose comes from when drugs are made illicitly. In this process, stronger additives such as meth, heroin, and fentanyl can be added to increase the potency. Drugs made illegally to look like prescription pills–such as oxycodone, percocet, and xanax–may contain lethal doses of fentanyl. This means that unassuming users are taking something laced with a drug that in many cases is 100 times more potent than what they think they are consuming.
Biomed student Caitlin Dowd ’25 completed her Capstone project about Narcan and the pervading epidemic of fentanyl overdose. She expressed her concerns, saying, “Life threatening drugs such as fentanyl can be present in every walk of life but have become increasingly common in underprivileged communities where preventative measures cannot be bought.”
The Trump administration plans to cut the yearly fiscal grant to the First Responder Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. This grant provides $56 million and dispenses around 100,000 Naloxone kits to first responders–training them how to use them properly.
“The Trump administration stripping funding from preventative measures will impact disadvantaged communities most and lead to families and communities being uprooted,” Dowd said.
To counteract the fentanyl crisis, the administration plans to induce more border control, imposing duties and strengthening immigration protocols. Unfortunately, the attention on immigration does not account for the fact that the majority of individuals charged with fentanyl
trafficking are U.S. citizens–according to the United States Sentencing Commission.
Nolan Ibarra ’25 offered insight into the complex issue, “I believe that it [Narcan] being taken away is dangerous, and training first responders how to administer it will help save lives, which is always good, but it is also the responsibility of the user to keep themselves safe and know what they are doing at all times.”
