The FDA announced on Wednesday that Narcan, which has solely been used by doctors and emergency responders, will now be available to purchase over the counter as early as this summer.  

Narcan, also known as Naloxone, has been used for years to treat patients who have overdosed from fentanyl and/or heroin. It will be sold over the counter as a nasal spray.  

Health officials say that when you come in contact with someone who has overdosed from fentanyl or heroin, to spray the Narcan completely into one nostril and wait one to two minutes to see the effect.  

Doctors say it is important to note that overdoses from these synthetic drugs will be the only thing reversed when using the spray, adding that if the overdose is a mixture of other drugs and/or alcohol, the Naloxone may not take effect.  

“We are still in an opioid crisis, and the ability to get Naloxone into as many hands as possible is critical because in that moment when someone is heading into that overdose, seconds matter,” said Dr. Susan Whitley, chief of the Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Center at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County.  

Doctors also recommend households carry at least two nasal sprays in the event that one bottle does not do the job.