Study: Naloxone saves lives and money

    The main point: The New York Department of Health published a study confirming that naloxone is both an evidence-based and cost-effective intervention for preventing overdose deaths.

    The findings: The study found that naloxone is highly effective at reversing overdoses while delivering significant public health benefits.

    • It is based on data collected April 2023-March 2025 on how many times naloxone was administered, outcomes for overdose victims, and program costs under the Department’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Program.

    The details:

    • It found a return on investment of $3,219 for every $1 spent.
    • In the two years, naloxone saved more than 6,500 lives, representing more than 204,000 years of life.
    • Naloxone distribution was economically beneficial.