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General product and handling information only, not medical advice. For the use of any naloxone product, the manufacturer’s label and instructions for use and local emergency services are the authority.
A Narcan kit is a naloxone product, usually the Narcan 4 mg nasal spray carton, stored with whatever a supplier or organisation adds around it so that it can be found, checked and replaced. This page is for the person who stocks, places or audits such a kit. It lists what the product itself contains, what to check on the label, and how to keep the kit usable. For what the medicine is, see what Narcan is and how its types differ.
Purpose and setting
The CDC describes two forms of naloxone that anyone can use without medical training: a prefilled nasal spray and an injectable. It says the choice between them can depend on factors such as cost, availability and comfort level (CDC, page dated 11 June 2025). A kit exists so that the product is in a known place, in date, and kept in the condition its label requires.
The terms overlap in practice. “Naloxone kit”, “opioid overdose kit” and “overdose response kit” are used by suppliers for a bundle built around naloxone. A “Narcan box” is the manufacturer’s carton. A “Narcan cabinet” is a wall or storage unit that holds such boxes. Neither the CDC page nor the label defines these terms, so treat each supplier’s own contents list as the specification for that product.
Narcan kit checklist
Every row below traces to the CDC page, the Narcan nasal spray label (DailyMed, revised 8/2022) or the manufacturer’s website. Anything a supplier adds beyond these rows varies by supplier and is not specified by either source.
| Item | Quantity guidance | Why it is on the list | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The medicine | |||
| Narcan nasal spray carton | One carton holds two blister packages, each with a single spray device (label, section 16.1) | The carton panel reads “two (2) 4-mg doses of naloxone HCl nasal spray”. One device contains one dose (narcan.com). | Each carton is two single-dose devices; the carton panel and the label are the reference for what is inside. |
| Injectable naloxone, if the organisation chooses that form | Per the product’s own labelling | The CDC lists injectable naloxone as the second form usable without medical training. | The CDC says the choice can depend on cost, availability and comfort level. Follow that product’s label and instructions for use. |
| Paperwork that travels with it | |||
| Instructions for use | One set per carton | The label includes instructions for use, and the carton panel says to check the expiration date before use. | Keep the carton’s printed instructions with the device rather than a separate copy. |
| Expiration date record | One entry per carton | The label says to replace the nasal spray before its expiration date. | Record the printed date so that replacement can be planned ahead of it. |
| Supplier extras (typical, not specified by the sources) | |||
| Items such as gloves or a breathing barrier | Varies by supplier | Supplier-specific; not a requirement stated in the sources. | Neither the CDC page nor the Narcan label lists accessories. Use the supplier’s contents list, and do not read it as a standard. |
What varies by facility type
The sources above describe the product and who may carry it, not a required kit for each building. Contents and counts beyond the medicine itself depend on the organisation and the supplier. For setting-specific supply lists, see the addiction treatment facility supply checklist, the correctional facility medical unit checklist, the college student health center checklist and the workplace first aid kit stocking guide. For where naloxone fits inside a prescribing programme, see opioid stewardship programs.
Storage, expiry and restocking
These rules come from the Narcan nasal spray label (DailyMed, set ID 76b5a1ce-e601-457c-ab35-43533bba4394, NDC 71205-528-02, revised 8/2022):
- Store below 77°F (25°C); excursions up to 104°F (40°C) are permitted.
- Do not freeze or expose to heat above 104°F (40°C).
- Protect from light.
- The label says the product freezes at temperatures below 5°F (-15°C), and that if this happens the device will not spray.
- Replace the nasal spray before its expiration date.
Storage wording differs between Narcan labels, so check the label printed on the carton you actually hold. In practice these lines turn into a restocking routine: confirm the carton is where the kit list says it is, read the expiration date, and look at where it is kept against the temperature limits above. The label also says to dispose of a used spray device away from children.
Standards and guidance that apply
The two documents this page relies on are the CDC’s naloxone page (dated 11 June 2025, checked 4 November 2026) and the Narcan nasal spray label (revised 8/2022, checked 4 November 2026). They are guidance and labelling, not a kit specification. Ask any supplier for the current label or prescribing information, the lot’s expiration date and the product’s storage statement before relying on a kit.
FAQ
What is in a Narcan kit?
At minimum the naloxone product, typically the Narcan nasal spray carton. For Narcan nasal spray, one carton holds two single-dose spray devices of 4 mg each (label). Any gloves, barrier or other accessories depend on the supplier.
What is in a naloxone kit, and is it the same as an opioid overdose kit?
The terms are used interchangeably by suppliers. No CDC or label definition exists, so compare contents lists rather than names.
How should a Narcan box be stored?
Below 77°F (25°C), with excursions to 104°F (40°C) permitted, away from freezing and light, per the label revised 8/2022. Check your carton’s label.
Does a Narcan box expire?
The label says to replace the nasal spray before its expiration date, and the carton panel says to check the expiration date before use. Record the printed date for each carton.
What is a Narcan cabinet?
A storage unit for naloxone boxes. Neither the CDC page nor the label defines a cabinet or sets requirements for one, so follow the cabinet maker’s instructions and the label’s storage limits.
Sources
- CDC, Lifesaving Naloxone, page dated 11 June 2025; checked 4 November 2026.
- DailyMed, NARCAN nasal spray label, revised 8/2022; checked 4 November 2026.
- Narcan manufacturer website, narcan.com; checked 4 November 2026.
