California law prohibits the sale, distribution, or possession of materials defined as “drug paraphernalia.” However, for many years the state has recognized the scientific consensus that access to sterile syringes and other safer drug use equipment protects people from HIV and viral hepatitis infection, injury, and other negative health consequences. Consequently, state law makes several broad exceptions to drug paraphernalia laws, allowing staff and volunteers of syringe services programs (SSPs), physicians, and pharmacists to legally distribute such equipment, and people who use drugs to legally possess them. SSPs also commonly distribute the opioid overdose antidote naloxone, a safe, nontoxic, easy- to-administer medication that can reverse an overdose and prevent death. California law allows dispensing and possession of naloxone without a patient-specific prescription.
