California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference at Controlled Thermal Resources as lithium extraction takes place behind him in Calipatria, Calif., on Monday, March 20, 2023.
Sacramento, California – California residents can now purchase the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone directly from the state for just $24, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office announced Monday.
Previously only available at a discount to government entities and organizations, the nasal spray — which is the generic version of Narcan — is now accessible to all Californians through the state’s CalRx website. The new price is about half the cost of what the drug typically sells for on the commercial market.
“Life-saving medications shouldn’t come with a life-altering price tag,” Newsom said in a statement. “CalRx is about making essential drugs like naloxone affordable and accessible for all — not the privileged few.”
The move is the latest step in California’s broader CalRx initiative, aimed at lowering the cost of essential medications through public-private partnerships. In 2024, the state partnered with Amneal Pharmaceuticals to supply naloxone at a steep discount. That same company recently agreed to a $273 million multistate settlement over allegations it failed to monitor suspicious opioid shipments.
The expansion of naloxone access comes as California continues to battle the opioid epidemic, which claimed more than 8,900 lives in 2024 — a 13% increase over the previous year, according to preliminary state data. However, early figures suggest that overdose deaths linked to synthetic opioids like fentanyl have begun to decline, marking the first downturn since 2018.
Since launching its Naloxone Distribution Project in 2018, California has distributed more than 6 million naloxone kits to local governments, schools, and community organizations. The state estimates the medication has helped reverse approximately 355,000 overdoses.
Naloxone, a nasal spray that can be administered by anyone, reverses opioid overdoses in minutes. The CDC recommends it be carried by anyone at risk of overdose or those close to people who may be.
California has also worked to expand naloxone availability in schools and workplaces. A bill signed into law last year could require businesses to stock the drug in first aid kits by 2028. Meanwhile, a $50-million state contract aims to produce affordable, generic insulin under CalRx — though that project remains behind schedule.
