New Hope Against Opioid Overdose Crisis
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today that it has approved the sale of Narcan nasal spray, an overdose-reversing drug used for opioid treatment, without a prescription.
Narcan is a medication that rapidly reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, which occurs when an individual takes too much prescription pain medication or illegal drugs like heroin. The rise of the opioid epidemic has led to over 100,000 deaths in the US every year. Making naloxone available more widely is seen as a key strategy to control the nationwide overdose crisis.
Accessible To Everyone
The FDA approval allows for Narcan to be sold over-the-counter by late summer 2021. This clears the way for Narcan to be made available in places without pharmacies — convenience stores, supermarkets and online retailers, for instance. Pharmacies could sell naloxone without a prescription because officials in every state have allowed it, but not every pharmacy carries it.
Even before the FDA’s action, pharmacies could sell naloxone without a prescription because officials in every state have allowed it. But not every pharmacy carries it, and buyers have to pay for the medication with an insurance co-pay or for the full retail price. Emergent has not announced its price and it’s not clear yet whether insurers will continue to cover it as a prescription drug if it’s available over the counter.
Life-Saving Tool
The Narcan nasal spray is the best-known form of naloxone which can reverse overdoses of opioids including synthetic versions such as fentanyl that can take multiple doses of naloxone to reverse.
Keith Humphreys, a Stanford University addiction expert, said one benefit of currently having pharmacists involved in dispensing the drug is that they can show buyers how to use it. Advocates believe it’s important to get naloxone to the people who are most likely to be around overdoses, including people who use drugs and their relatives.
The state may stop providing Narcan for free after it becomes available over-the-counter. However, Marylanders can still find free Naloxone near them through the MDH’s Overdose Response Program.
Concerns Over Cost
Toni Torsch, founder of the Daniel Carl Torsch Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to reducing the stigma of addiction and decreasing opioid-related deaths, is concerned about the increased cost of Narcan. She hopes the manufacturers keep in mind the critical importance of this medication in the fight against drug overdose and saving lives.
Emergent had to conduct a study examining whether untrained people could follow directions for using Narcan. Last month, an FDA expert panel voted to make the drug available over the counter.
Conclusion
The approval of over-the-counter Narcan nasal spray by FDA is a significant step in fighting against the opioid epidemic in the US. The wider availability of naloxone is needed at all levels and cannot solely depend on emergency responders. The availability of Narcan in retail stores would make it more accessible and easier to administer, leading to increased chances of surviving an opioid overdose.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
