If you think someone is overdosing
Call 911. If you have naloxone, give it the way the instructions printed on the package say, and keep watching the person until emergency care arrives: naloxone wears off, so the call to 911 matters even if they wake up. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that naloxone has no effect on someone who does not have opioids in their system.
Calling for help is protected. Under Ohio's Good Samaritan law, a person who seeks medical help for an overdose cannot be arrested or prosecuted for a minor drug possession offense found because of that call, as long as they get a screening and a treatment referral within 30 days. The details and limits are in the questions below.
Where to get free naloxone in Ohio
We found three routes, and two of them are free. Each was checked on its official page on October 10, 2026.
| Route | Cost | How |
|---|---|---|
| Any pharmacy or store that stocks it | Retail price | Narcan 4 mg nasal spray is sold without a prescription (FDA approval, March 29, 2023). |
| By mail, anywhere in Ohio | Free | NEXT Distro mails naloxone at no cost with Harm Reduction Ohio and Project DAWN, for people who cannot get it locally. Fentanyl and xylazine test strips can be requested on the same form. |
| In person in Toledo | Free | Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, 635 N Erie St. Walk in or book with the naloxone coordinator at 419-213-4168. Northwest Ohio residents can also get kits by mail. |
The Toledo kit, as the health department describes it, holds two 4 mg doses of naloxone nasal spray, a face shield for rescue breathing, gloves and education materials. In-person dispensing hours at the downtown location are Monday to Wednesday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Are fentanyl test strips legal in Ohio?
Yes, for using and possessing them. Ohio law exempts drug testing strips for fentanyl from the paraphernalia offense, and a Board of Pharmacy rule in force since November 1, 2025 extends that to strips and reagent kits for four more groups of substances. We set out exactly what the law covers, with the citations, in our Ohio test strip law guide.
Syringe services in Lucas County: when they are open
| Stop | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Toledo | Every Thursday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (call ahead to order) | 635 N Erie St |
| East Toledo (Village Recovery) | Every Thursday, 1 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. | 117 Main St |
| South Toledo (St. Lucas Lutheran Church) | Every Tuesday, 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. | 745 Walbridge Ave |
| Zepf (Ashland) | Every other Monday, 9:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. | 2005 Ashland Ave |
| West Toledo (Toledo Treatment/Pinnacle) | Every other Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | 115 S Reynolds Rd |
| North Toledo (Equitas Health Toledo) | Every other Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | 613 W Alexis Rd |
Call the syringe services line at 419-213-2655 before you go: schedules change, and the downtown stop asks you to call ahead. The health department lists naloxone and drug testing strips for fentanyl and xylazine among the supplies its program offers. Ohio law lets a city or general health district run these programs (Ohio Revised Code 3707.57).
Where to go next
Questions people ask
Can I get naloxone in Ohio without a prescription?
Yes. The FDA approved Narcan 4 mg nasal spray for sale without a prescription on March 29, 2023. Free kits are also mailed anywhere in Ohio through NEXT Distro with Harm Reduction Ohio and Project DAWN, and Lucas County's health department gives kits free at 635 N Erie St, Toledo, on weekdays.
Will I get arrested if I call 911 for an overdose in Ohio?
Ohio's Good Samaritan law (Ohio Revised Code 2925.11(B)(2)(b)) protects a person who seeks help for an overdose from arrest and prosecution for a minor drug possession offense, if the evidence came from seeking that help and the person gets a screening and a treatment referral within 30 days. It can be used no more than two times. It is not a promise about any other charge; this is general information, not legal advice.
Are fentanyl test strips legal in Ohio?
Yes. Ohio law exempts using or possessing drug testing strips for fentanyl from the drug paraphernalia offense, and since November 1, 2025 a Board of Pharmacy rule extends that to strips and reagent kits for xylazine, medetomidine, nitazenes and benzodiazepines too.
When are syringe services open in Lucas County?
The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department lists six stops: Monday (every other week), Tuesday, Wednesday (two stops, every other week), and Thursday (two stops). None is open on a Saturday or Sunday. Call 419-213-2655 to confirm before you go.
Sources, each checked on the date shown
- FDA: FDA approves first over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray (March 29, 2023) verified 2026-10-10
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Naloxone DrugFacts verified 2026-10-10. Page last updated January 2022
- NEXT Distro: free naloxone by mail in Ohio (with Harm Reduction Ohio and Project DAWN) verified 2026-10-10
- Toledo-Lucas County Health Department: naloxone (Narcan) dispensing and mail order verified 2026-10-10
- Toledo-Lucas County Health Department: syringe services (NOSS) schedule verified 2026-10-10
- Ohio Revised Code 2925.11, division (B)(2): immunity when seeking help for an overdose verified 2026-10-10. Version effective April 9, 2025
- Ohio Revised Code 3707.57: bloodborne infectious disease prevention programs (syringe services) verified 2026-10-10
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline verified 2026-10-10
- Poison Help (America's Poison Centers) verified 2026-10-10
- SAMHSA National Helpline verified 2026-10-10
This page is general information, not medical or legal advice. Laws are stated for Ohio with the date we checked them; confirm the current text on the linked official source. Person-first language is used throughout. Health Britannica carries no ads, sponsors or affiliate links in its harm-reduction section, and listing a service is not an endorsement in either direction.