The New York State Department of Health has announced the results of a new study confirming that naloxone is both an effective and cost-efficient intervention for preventing overdose deaths. The peer-reviewed research, published in the Journal of Public Health Management & Practice, was coauthored by State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald, department researchers, and a colleague from Brown University.
“This is a groundbreaking study demonstrating naloxone is a very cost-effective public health resource, and one of the most powerful tools we have to fight the opioid overdose epidemic,” said Dr. James McDonald. “By making naloxone widely available, we ensure New Yorkers are prepared to provide immediate assistance to someone in crisis, potentially saving their life. This study further demonstrates naloxone’s public health impact.”
According to the department, this marks the first time a state health agency has conducted such a comprehensive economic evaluation on naloxone administration. The analysis found that for every dollar spent on naloxone distribution through state programs, there was a return on investment of $3,219. Data reviewed covered April 2023 through March 2025 and included information about how often naloxone was used, outcomes for overdose victims, and program costs under the Opioid Overdose Prevention Program.
Researchers concluded that over two years more than 6,500 lives were saved due to naloxone interventions—equating to over 204,000 years of life preserved. The findings indicate that distributing naloxone provides significant economic and public health benefits.
Naloxone remains central to New York’s harm-reduction strategies aimed at preventing overdoses. The Department continues efforts such as increasing access to drug treatment services and monitoring prescription practices in order to reduce opioid misuse.
The state’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs offer training on recognizing overdoses and responding appropriately; they also distribute free naloxone kits to members of the public. Naloxone products—including 4 mg intranasal sprays—are available without prescription at pharmacies across New York State. The Naloxone Co-Payment Assistance Program helps residents obtain these products at reduced or no cost.
For more details about accessing naloxone locally or finding participating pharmacies, residents can consult resources provided by the Naloxone Co-payment Assistance Program and Pharmacy Directories.
