Naloxone, Test Strips & Overdose Laws in Morris County, NJ

Three questions families in Morris County ask us

Visitors generally arrive with one of three concerns: whether carrying naloxone or fentanyl test strips is lawful, whether an overdose-related 911 call could create legal risk, and how to obtain supplies near Parsippany without a prescription or cost.

Each concern is addressed with links to the state materials behind the information so you can verify it yourself. This page offers general information rather than legal advice. For possible criminal charges, a defense lawyer or the public defender’s office can discuss details that a website cannot.

How to obtain naloxone nearby without a prescription

The New Jersey Department of Health has issued a standing order allowing every licensed pharmacist in the state to dispense naloxone, also commonly called Narcan, to anyone who requests it, whether or not that person has an individual prescription. Pharmacies in Morris County follow the same order as pharmacies elsewhere in New Jersey.

You can generally ask for naloxone directly at a participating pharmacy near Parsippany, much as you would ask about an over-the-counter product. In separate guidance from the state licensing boards, doctors are also expected to prescribe naloxone alongside certain higher-risk prescriptions, including high-dose opioids.

Free, anonymous ways to obtain it

Beginning in 2023, participating New Jersey pharmacies have been able to provide free, anonymous naloxone to anyone age 14 or older. The state calls the program one of the nation’s broadest, and periodic distribution events have supported it through the Attorney General’s NJ CARES initiative and the Division of Consumer Affairs.

When going to a pharmacy is not practical, the NJ Harm Reduction Coalition can mail naloxone at no charge and discreetly to New Jersey addresses, including those in Morris County, through its partnership with NEXT Distro. Regional prevention coalitions also hand it out at community events. We offer referrals rather than supplying naloxone ourselves, so these are the options we direct people to.

Carrying fentanyl test strips is legal

New Jersey once classified fentanyl test strips as illegal drug paraphernalia. Legislation taking effect January 18, 2022, removed sterile syringes and fentanyl test strips from the paraphernalia statute, N.J.S.A. 2C:36-6. The 2024 law S3957 expanded the exemption to additional harm-reduction supplies.

Fentanyl test strips may now be possessed and distributed throughout New Jersey, and syringe access programs may provide them with other supplies. Since statutes can change, check current information at njleg.gov or ask an attorney if the timing affects your circumstances.

What New Jersey’s Good Samaritan protection covers

The Overdose Prevention Act, passed in 2013, was intended to reduce fear of arrest that might prevent someone from seeking help. Under N.J.S. 2C:35-30, a person who calls for medical assistance in good faith during an overdose, along with the person who overdosed, cannot be arrested, charged, or prosecuted for a limited group of offenses, primarily simple drug possession and related paraphernalia violations.

The safeguard is not unlimited. It excludes drug-distribution and manufacturing charges, drug-induced-death charges, and driving under the influence. It also covers only evidence obtained directly because help was sought. If more than simple possession is involved, consult an attorney about the law’s application to your circumstances.

Steps to take while EMS is on the way

Knowing how to identify an overdose and respond promptly is more useful than memorizing statutes. The New Jersey Department of Human Services provides free statewide community training on recognizing overdose signs and administering intranasal naloxone. Although training is not required to possess or use naloxone, it can help people feel prepared.

• Call 911 without delay — New Jersey’s overdose protection law is intended to let you make that call without hesitation.
• If naloxone is available and you feel able to use it, administer it according to the product instructions.
• If the person is breathing, place them on their side and remain with them until paramedics arrive — naloxone may wear off before the opioid, so another dose might be necessary.
• When you do not know exactly what happened, share everything you observed with the 911 dispatcher and EMS personnel; those details help them provide safe treatment.

A near-fatal event may prompt someone to consider treatment, and our line can connect them with programs in Morris County and throughout New Jersey. Immediate support is also available from ReachNJ at 844-732-2465 or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.