Final answer:
Naloxone (Narcan) is the drug used to treat suspected or known narcotic overdoses by reversing life-threatening respiratory depression caused by opioids.
Step-by-step explanation:
The drug used for suspected or known narcotic overdose is naloxone (Narcan). Opioid overdoses often result in life-threatening respiratory depression, and administering naloxone can help the person wake up and continue breathing until further medical assistance arrives.
Naloxone is an opiate antagonist that rapidly reverses the effects of opioids, which include drugs like heroin, morphine, fentanyl, and prescription pain relievers such as oxycodone and Vicodin. It is critical to avoid the co-use of benzodiazepines with opioids to minimize the risk of overdose. Recovery services emphasize increasing access to opioid-overdose antidotes like naloxone to combat addiction and prevent overdose deaths.