Harm Reduction in New Jersey: Naloxone, Fentanyl Test Strips & the Good Samaritan Law

Why this page exists

If you're reading this, you're probably trying to answer one of a few very specific questions: Can I legally carry naloxone or a fentanyl test strip in New Jersey? Will I get in trouble if I call 911 during an overdose? Where can I actually get naloxone without a prescription or a bill? Those questions deserve direct, sourced answers, not vague reassurance.

This page summarizes what New Jersey's laws and public health programs say as of this writing, with links to the state sources so you can verify anything yourself. It is general information, not legal advice — if a specific situation involves potential criminal exposure, an attorney or the public defender's office is the right resource, not a website.

Naloxone access: the standing order

Naloxone (commonly known by the brand name Narcan) temporarily reverses an opioid overdose. In New Jersey, you do not need your own prescription to get it. The New Jersey Department of Health has issued a statewide standing order that authorizes all licensed pharmacists to dispense an opioid antidote to any individual or entity, regardless of whether that person or organization holds an individual prescription, under the authority of P.L.2021, c.152.

In practice, that means you can walk into a participating pharmacy and ask for naloxone the same way you'd ask about an over-the-counter product. Separately, prescribers in New Jersey are now required to co-prescribe naloxone in certain situations, such as when a patient is prescribed high doses of opioids or certain risky drug combinations, following rules adopted by the state's medical licensing boards.

Getting naloxone for free

Beyond the standing order, New Jersey runs a specific no-cost program. Since January 2023, the state has allowed anyone age 14 or older to get naloxone anonymously and at no cost at participating pharmacies statewide, a program the Department of Human Services has described as one of the most expansive in the country. The NJ Office of the Attorney General's NJ CARES initiative and the Division of Consumer Affairs have supported related efforts, including large-scale naloxone distribution days at pharmacies across the state.

You don't have to go through a pharmacy at all. The NJ Harm Reduction Coalition mails naloxone (branded Narcan) free and discreetly anywhere in New Jersey through a partnership with NEXT Distro, and many regional prevention coalitions also distribute it directly to community members. If cost or anonymity is the barrier, one of these routes will usually work better than asking a treatment program to supply it — that isn't something this organization can do, since we are an information and referral resource, not a pharmacy or a clinic.

Fentanyl test strips: what changed

For years, fentanyl test strips and other drug-checking supplies were technically illegal to possess in New Jersey because they fell under the state's drug paraphernalia law. That changed with legislation effective January 18, 2022, which repealed the relevant paraphernalia provisions (N.J.S.A. 2C:36-6) as they applied to sterile syringes and fentanyl test strips, removing criminal exposure for possessing or distributing them.

New Jersey expanded this further: in January 2024, the governor signed legislation (S3957) broadening the categories of harm-reduction supplies exempt from paraphernalia laws, building on the earlier decriminalization. Fentanyl test strips are now legal to possess and distribute in New Jersey, and syringe access programs are authorized to provide them along with other harm-reduction supplies. As with any legal question, confirm current details with njleg.gov or an attorney if your situation is time-sensitive or unusual.

The overdose Good Samaritan law: what it actually protects

New Jersey's Overdose Prevention Act (signed in 2013) is meant to encourage people to call for help during an overdose rather than fleeing out of fear of arrest. The relevant statute, N.J.S. 2C:35-30, provides that a person who, in good faith, seeks medical assistance for someone experiencing a drug overdose cannot be arrested, charged, prosecuted, or convicted for a specific, limited list of offenses — mainly simple possession or use of a controlled substance, certain paraphernalia offenses, and a few related charges. The person who overdosed is protected the same way.

This immunity has real boundaries. It does not cover manufacturing or distributing (dealing) drugs, does not apply to strict-liability drug-induced death charges, and does not cover driving under the influence. It also only applies when the evidence in question came directly from the act of seeking help. If a situation involves anything beyond simple possession, that's a reason to talk to an attorney or public defender about the specifics — this page can describe the general shape of the law, not apply it to an individual case.

Naloxone training and using it

New Jersey's Department of Human Services offers free community naloxone training in all regions of the state, covering how to recognize an overdose and how to administer intranasal naloxone. Training isn't legally required to carry or use naloxone, but many people find a short session reassuring before they carry it.

If you or someone you're helping is around opioids at all — prescribed or otherwise — having naloxone on hand and knowing how to call for help are the two most concrete steps available. Ask a pharmacist about the standing order, or contact a regional prevention coalition or the NJ Harm Reduction Coalition for a free mailed supply.

• In an overdose, call 911 first — the Good Samaritan law exists specifically so you can do this.
• Administer naloxone according to the product's instructions if you have it and are trained or comfortable doing so.
• Stay with the person until help arrives; naloxone can wear off before the opioid does.