If someone may be overdosing, call 911 now and give naloxone if you have it. Massachusetts law protects you from drug possession charges when you call for help.
Quick answer: In Massachusetts, you can get naloxone (Narcan) at a pharmacy without your own prescription, and the state’s Good Samaritan law protects both the caller and the person overdosing from possession charges when someone calls 911. Fentanyl is in most fatal opioid overdoses, so never use alone, carry naloxone, and know the signs of an overdose.
How we put this guide together
East Coast Recovery Center is an outpatient addiction treatment program in Cohasset, Massachusetts. This guide is for anyone who uses drugs, loves someone who does, or wants to be prepared. It draws on Massachusetts law, Department of Public Health (DPH) data and state overdose prevention resources.
Where Massachusetts stands
Overdose deaths in Massachusetts are falling, but the risk is still real. DPH reported 978 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths in 2025, the first time below 1,000 since 2013, down from a record 2,364 in 2022. Fentanyl remains the main driver: DPH found it in about 92% of fatal opioid-related overdoses in 2024 where toxicology was available.
Overdose safety at a glance
| Tool or protection | What it does | How to get it or use it |
| Naloxone (Narcan) | Reverses opioid overdoses | Pharmacies, without your own prescription |
| Good Samaritan law | Protects callers and overdose victims from possession charges | Call 911 during an overdose |
| Drug checking | Helps detect fentanyl and other substances | Fentanyl test strips and drug checking services |
| Never using alone | Ensures someone can respond | Use with someone who has naloxone |
| Treatment and medication | Lowers long-term overdose risk | Outpatient programs, MAT |
1. Get naloxone without a prescription
Under state law, DPH issued a statewide pharmacy standing order that lets people get naloxone without an individual prescription. Many community programs also distribute it for free. Keep it where you, your family and friends can find it quickly.
It works: DPH reported that community groups recorded 6,478 overdose reversals using state-provided naloxone in fiscal year 2024.
2. Know the Good Samaritan law
Massachusetts General Law Chapter 94C, Section 34A says that a person who, in good faith, seeks medical help for someone experiencing a drug-related overdose can’t be charged or prosecuted for drug possession, or found in violation of probation, pretrial release or parole, based on evidence found because they called for help. The person who overdosed is protected in the same way.
What it doesn’t cover: trafficking, distribution or possession with intent to distribute.
3. Recognize the signs of an opioid overdose
- Not waking up or not responding to voice or a firm chest rub.
- Slow, shallow or stopped breathing.
- Gurgling or snoring sounds.
- Blue or gray lips and fingertips.
- Pinpoint pupils and a limp body.
4. Respond quickly
- Call 911. Say someone isn’t breathing or isn’t responding.
- Give naloxone. Spray it into one nostril. If there’s no response in two to three minutes, give a second dose.
- Support breathing. If trained, give rescue breaths.
- Put them on their side if they’re breathing, to prevent choking.
- Stay with them. Naloxone can wear off before fentanyl does, so the person may stop breathing again.
5. Assume fentanyl may be present
Fentanyl contaminates much of the street drug supply, including drugs sold as heroin, cocaine and counterfeit pills. You can’t tell by looking. A 2024 Massachusetts law expanded access to overdose-reversal drugs and created liability protections for providers and organizations offering drug checking services.
6. Never use alone
Many overdose deaths happen when no one is there to call for help or give naloxone. If you use, use with someone who has naloxone and knows how to respond, and stagger use so you’re not both impaired at once.
7. Be extra careful after a break
Tolerance drops quickly after detox, treatment, jail or any period of not using. Using the same amount as before can be deadly. The weeks after leaving treatment are a particularly high-risk time.
8. Know that treatment lowers overdose risk
For opioid use disorder, staying on methadone or buprenorphine is linked to substantial reductions in overdose deaths, according to a 2017 BMJ review. East Coast Recovery offers medication-assisted treatment alongside counseling, and treats fentanyl addiction in an outpatient setting.
If you’re ready to talk about treatment, call East Coast Recovery at (617) 390-8349 or the Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline at 800-327-5050.
FAQ
Can I get Narcan without a prescription in Massachusetts?
Yes. A statewide standing order lets pharmacies dispense naloxone without an individual prescription, and community programs often distribute it for free. Naloxone nasal spray is also sold over the counter.
Will I get arrested if I call 911 for an overdose in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts’ Good Samaritan law protects both the caller and the person overdosing from being charged with drug possession, or found in violation of probation, pretrial release or parole, based on evidence found because help was called. It doesn’t protect against trafficking or distribution charges.
Can naloxone hurt someone who isn’t overdosing on opioids?
No. Naloxone only affects opioids. If someone isn’t overdosing on opioids, it won’t harm them. When in doubt, give naloxone and call 911.
How many people die of overdoses in Massachusetts?
According to the Department of Public Health, there were 978 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts in 2025, down from 1,336 in 2024 and a record 2,364 in 2022. Fentanyl is involved in the large majority of fatal opioid overdoses.
Where can I find addiction treatment in Massachusetts?
Call the Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline at 800-327-5050 or visit helplinema.org to search for licensed programs. East Coast Recovery in Cohasset offers outpatient treatment, including day treatment, partial day treatment and medication-assisted treatment.
