In a 48-hour period, there were 10 overdoses in the Santa Clarita Valley — one fatal. Officials reported nine others were saved by the ‘anti-opiate’ drug.

Naloxone, available without a prescription in California, is designed to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose, a life-saver for first responders, quite literally.

“This medication is our second, third and fourth line of defence against opioid overdoses,” said Dr. Clayton Kazan, medical director for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. “Our first line of defence is always assisting the breathing of patients.”

Dr. Kazan noted that in overdose cases breathing is the the most important factor — but emergency responders first have to determine if an opiate overdose has taken place.

“Medical professionals first have to determine if an unconscious person is a victim of an opioid overdose,” said Dr. Kazan. “The person could be unconscious for a number of reasons.”

The medical director explained that opioid overdose symptoms include constricted or “pinpoint” pupils, pale skin and shallow or even stopped breathing.

“Once it is determined that an opioid overdose is taken place, medical professionals then administer Naloxone,” said Dr. Kazan.

The medication is an opioid antagonist — meaning it binds to receptors and can reverse and block the effects of other opioids, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA).

“Naloxone ‘fights’ for the opioid receptors in the brain,” explained Dr. Kazan. “The medication binds to receptors so the brain stops taking in the other opioids.”

When a person is overdosing on an opioid, breathing can slow down or stop and it can very hard to wake them from this state.

The anti-opiate drug can very quickly restore normal respiration to a person whose breathing has slowed or stopped as a result of overdosing on heroin or prescription opioid pain medications.

Emergency responders are not the only ones with access to this medication, it is also available at most pharmacies, according to a local substance abuse counseling expert.

“You can also keep it in your medicine cabinet if you or a loved one is an opiate user, ” said Bob Sharits, owner of The Way Out Recovery. “You should always try to get someone into treatment, but this drug is a good first-aid.”

Naloxone is available without a prescription in over 30 states, including California.

The cost of a 2ml syringe of Naloxone in Santa Clarita varies from $36 to $42, according to the website GoodRx.

Pharmacists have a ‘standing prescription’ with a Physician for the medication, said Erin Britt, director of corporate communications at CVS Health.

The medication is available in three forms: Injectable, auto-Injectable and nasal spray.

The injectable form is commonly used by paramedics, emergency room doctors, and other specially trained first responders.

The auto-injector, under the brand name EVZIO, is a naloxone auto-injection system with voice and visual guidance—designed to help caregivers take fast, confident action administering naloxone in an opioid emergency, according to their website.

The nasal spray Narcan, approved by the FDA in 2015, is the most common form of the medication used by people who are not medical professionals.

“Pharmacists can provide instruction to properly administer the medication,” said Phil Caruso, spokesperson for Walgreens. “When dealing with overdoses, seconds count.”