Pubs, clubs and music venues in Australia's cocaine consumption capital will be able to keep medication on hand to reverse opioid overdoses.
Licensed venues in NSW have been invited to participate in a voluntary program providing naloxone nasal spray to keep in their first aid kits.
Additional training and expert advice will also be available to participating venues.
The nasal spray temporarily reverses opioid overdoses by blocking receptors in the brain, buying time to access treatment.
It has no effect on people who have not used opioids.
"Having this tool to help prevent deaths from overdoses brings NSW up to speed with leading international jurisdictions," the state's Night-Time Economy Minister John Graham said.
"Our venue operators care about safety and we're supporting them with this important tool to keep people safe until emergency services arrive."
Health Minister Ryan Park said overdoses could happen anywhere.
"This program is about ensuring that when they do, people have the tools they need to potentially save a life."
Naloxone availability has become more common nationwide and internationally alongside increasing concerns about powerful opioids such as fentanyl and nitazenes being found in other drugs.
Expanding access to naloxone, including equipping first responders, was a priority action recommended in a report from the NSW Drug Summit.
The government has yet to release its response, expected before the end of the year.
NSW Health issued a public warning in September when 10 people presented to hospitals around the state with severe opioid overdoses, after using what they thought was cocaine.
The state capital, Sydney, has the highest level of cocaine consumption, according to the most recent report from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission's wastewater analysis program.
In 2022, the federal government allocated almost $20 million across four years for a take-home naloxone program.
It makes the medication available for free, without a prescription, from participating pharmacies as well as drug and alcohol treatment centres and other sites.
NSW is also continuing a trial of drug-checking services at music festivals, including the Knockout Outdoor festival in Sydney's west on Saturday.
Two men died after attending the festival in 2023, and another in 2024.
