Newsom makes $24 generic Narcan available to all Californians

Sacramento, California – Governor Newsom announced that individual twin-packs of CalRx®-branded over-the-counter (OTC) naloxone HCL 4 mg nasal spray are now available to all Californians at a low price of $24 per carton – almost half the standard market price. Previously offered only to government entities and businesses in packs of 24, this new direct-to-consumer program expands individual access to this life-saving overdose reversal medication. By making naloxone more affordable and accessible, California is empowering communities to save lives.

“Life-saving medications shouldn’t come with a life-altering price tag. CalRx is about making essential drugs like naloxone affordable and accessible for all — not the privileged few. California is using our market power as the 5th largest economy in the world to disrupt a billion-dollar industry to save lives…and we’re just getting started.”

Governor Gavin Newsom

Naloxone, a medication that blocks the effects of opioids, can quickly reverse an overdose, giving individuals crucial time to receive medical help. By offering this life-saving medication at a fixed, affordable price, CalRx is improving public health through accessible, essential medications.

Anyone residing in California can now visit the CalRx website to purchase an individual twin-pack of naloxone HCL 4 mg nasal spray for $24, plus tax and shipping fees. This price makes the CalRx offering among the most cost-competitive options currently available.

Bigger picture

The launch of CalRx®-branded naloxone in May 2024 was more than just an expansion of access to a single medication — it represented a larger shift in how California is reshaping the pharmaceutical market to prioritize affordability, transparency, and public health.

By leveraging state purchasing power and strategic partnerships, CalRx is establishing a new standard for making essential medications more accessible at lower, more predictable prices. This initiative not only provides lifesaving naloxone at an affordable cost but also demonstrates how bold, state-led action can disrupt traditional pricing models and ensure that cost never stands in the way of care.

This initiative is part of Governor Newsom’s Master Plan for Tackling the Fentanyl and Opioid Crisis. A recent study published on the Naloxone Savings Dashboard revealed that the state’s CalRX initiative has saved California over $6 million to date. For more information on opioids and how you can protect yourself and loved ones, visit Opioids.CA.GOV, a one-stop shop for Californians seeking resources around prevention and treatment.

Impact on the opioid crisis

For the first time in California, data through June 2024 showed a decline in synthetic opioid-related overdose deaths, from drugs such as fentanyl and tramadol. This had reversed a trend of increased synthetic opioid-related death in the state from 2018 through June 2023. The overdose crisis remains complex and is constantly evolving due to a variety of factors. Year-to-year changes cannot be credited to any one cause, but it is clear that a comprehensive effort is making a difference, as we continue to address opioid trafficking, prevent overdoses, support those with opioid use disorder, and raise awareness about the dangers of opioids.

How to obtain CalRx Naloxone

1. Online ordering: California residents and businesses can order CalRx® Naloxone HCL 4 mg nasal spray for $24 per box by visiting the CalRx Get Naloxone website.

   2. Naloxone Distribution Project: Eligible organizations may qualify for free CalRx® Naloxone HCL 4 mg nasal spray through the Department of Health Care Services’ Naloxone Distribution Project (NDP). For more information, visit the NDP website.​

CalRx® program

The California Department of Health Care Access and Information, which administers the CalRx program, recently published its Naloxone Savings Dashboard, revealing that this initiative has saved California over $17 million to date.

The success of this program was also highlighted in a February 2025 Health Affairs journal article titled, “Increasing competition, improving access, and lowering the cost of naloxone in California.”

For more information on CalRx® naloxone, please visit CalRx® Naloxone. 

For more information regarding California’s response to the opioid crisis, please visit http://opioids.ca.gov.