Pharmacy Naloxone Access in California

Throughout the summer and fall of 2015, pharmacies across California will begin making the opiate overdose reversal drug naloxone available without a prior prescription. Thanks to a new law co-sponsored by Drug Policy Alliance, AB 1535, Californians are now able to purchase naloxone directly from a participating local pharmacist, either with cash or in some cases, private insurance.  Pharmacists who wish to dispense naloxone must complete an approved web-based training, and customers purchasing naloxone must also receive a brief in-store training on its use.

Please note: Prices and formulations of naloxone may vary from store to store. Consumers are encouraged to call their local pharmacy to confirm pharmacy pricing and participation in this new program.

List of Participating Pharmacies in California

The Drug Policy Alliance is proud to support the effort to share information about participating pharmacies and will update this list periodically. If your local pharmacy is stocking and selling naloxone and you don’t see it listed here, please contact Meghan Ralston with any details at [email protected].

Chain Pharmacies and Supermarkets

  • CVS - Virtually all California CVS pharmacies now make naloxone available without a prescription. See a partial list.

Independent pharmacies

  • SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY: Quick Care Pharmacy, 9397 Haven Ave, Rancho Cucamonga, CA (866) 393-8116
  • SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY: Mission Wellness Pharmacy, 2424 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA, (415) 826-3484
  • SANTA BARBARA COUNTY: Pain Management Pharmacy, 2003 S. Miller St., Santa Maria, CA (805) 928-4700
  • SANTA CLARA COUNTY: Evergreen Pharmacy, 2690 S. White Rd #200-A, San Jose, CA; (408) 270-0670

Information for Pharmacists

If you are a pharmacist who would like to complete the approved California training, you can sign up for a CPhA webinar or contact the California Pharmacists Association.

If you are a pharmacist currently stocking and selling naloxone and do not see your pharmacy listed here, please contact Meghan Ralston [email protected]

What is Naloxone? 

Naloxone is a medication that rapidly reverses the respiratory depression resulting from an opiate overdose caused by drugs such as heroin, oxycodone and methadone. It is standard practice for emergency personnel to administer naloxone when summoned to the scene of a suspected opiate overdose. Naloxone has no psychoactive or addictive qualities and very few side effects. After a simple training, naloxone can be safely administered by laypeople, including family members and peers, either by intramuscular injection or with a nasal spray. 

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