Title: Life-saving Overdose Reversal Drug Narcan to be Sold Over the Counter Starting September
In an effort to combat the ongoing opioid epidemic, the overdose reversal drug Narcan, also known as naloxone, will soon be available for purchase without a prescription. The biotech company, Emergent BioSolutions, recently announced that the drug has been shipped to pharmacies, drugstores, grocery stores, and online retailers, and will hit the shelves starting in September.
Narcan is a nasal spray that comes in 4-miligram doses, and a two-dose box will be priced at $44.99. The convenience of being able to purchase the drug over the counter will be a game-changer for those who are at risk of opioid overdoses or are in close proximity to individuals who may need immediate access to the life-saving medication.
Select Walgreens stores across the country will be among the first to offer Narcan, with availability on September 5. Nationwide availability will follow shortly after on September 7. Additionally, CVS will also be offering the drug over the counter at more than 7,000 pharmacies, as well as through their app. Rite Aid is expected to begin selling Narcan in early September as well.
This significant development comes after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted approval for Narcan to be sold without a prescription. Advocates have long pushed for the accessibility of Narcan over the counter to enhance the availability of this crucial drug.
Opioid overdoses have reached epidemic levels in the United States. With opioids causing a devastatingly high number of deaths each year, estimated at over 100,000, making naloxone more widely available is seen as a vital strategy to combat this crisis.
Narcan has the potential to reverse overdoses caused by opioids such as fentanyl and heroin, both of which contribute significantly to the majority of overdose deaths. The drug’s effectiveness in saving lives has led to calls for its increased accessibility, particularly as overdose death rates have been steadily rising over the past few decades.
Recent data suggests that opioid overdose deaths may be stabilizing, but the toll remains alarmingly high, with approximately 107,000 Americans losing their lives to drug overdoses in 2021, marking a sobering all-time high.
By expanding access to Narcan, experts hope to control the overdose crisis and reduce the staggering number of deaths associated with opioids. With the drug’s imminent over-the-counter availability, more lives can be saved, offering hope amid this national health emergency.
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