The opioid overdose antidote Narcan will be widely available over the counter next week

The opioid overdose antidote Narcan will be available over the counter in the coming days, a move that is hoped to increase access to the life-saving drug in the context of the country’s worsening opioid epidemic.

Emergent BioSolutions, which makes the drug, said Wednesday that shipments were on the way to major retailers, including Walgreens, Walmart, Rite Aid and CVS. It may also be available to purchase online from select companies this week.

Dr. Scott Hadland, an addiction specialist at Mass General for Children in Boston, said the shift to over-the-counter drugs will help spread Narcan, make it more normal for people and their families to carry around and have a home for safety, which is critical to reducing the growing number of overdose deaths occurring nationwide.

The drug’s cost, however, $44.99 for a two-dose box, may make it out of reach for some.

Unfortunately, for many people who are living with addiction or want to protect a loved one living with addiction, this cost will be too high, Hadland said. I know, because I see it in my own practice, where drugs that cost this much are just out of reach.

Overdoses are the leading cause of accidental death in the United States and the fourth leading cause of death overall in the country. In 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were more than 107,000 overdose deaths, an all-time high. Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, was involved in more than 71,000 of these deaths.

Narcan can quickly reverse overdoses of fentanyl and other opioids, including heroin and prescription pain relievers.

It was previously prescription-only, although many states created workarounds that allowed people to get it directly from pharmacists. In many places, it is also available free of charge at community centers, local health departments, and needle exchange programs.

The Food and Drug Administration’s approval of Narcan for over-the-counter use this year means it can be sold in even more places, including convenience stores, airports, and even vending machines.

Emergent will ship several hundred thousand boxes of Narcan to major retail chains in the first week, followed by more boxes to smaller chains in September, said Paul Williams, senior vice president. Any company wishing to supply the drug can purchase it directly through a wholesaler.

In addition to being available on store shelves, the product will be available for online ordering, which is important for those who don’t want to interact with other people to get the drug.

The time is right, Williams said of the shift to over-the-counter use, particularly in the past two years with the number of opioid-related deaths rising significantly.

Tricia Moriarty, a spokeswoman, said Walmart will have over-the-counter Narcan in some of its stores and online as early as this weekend.

Walgreens will begin selling the over-the-counter version in some of its retail stores on Sept. 5, followed by the entire fleet on Sept. 7, said Dr. Kevin Ban, its chief medical officer.

However, Narcan will not be sold directly on Walgreens shelves. Instead, people who want to buy it will need to get a card from the pain management section and give it to an employee, who will then supply the drug, Ban said. Walgreens has taken a similar approach with other products, including Sudafed.

Heather Saunders, postdoctoral researcher in the Medicaid and the Uninsured program at KFF, a nonpartisan group that studies health policy issues, said offering Narcan over-the-counter has the potential to reduce stigma around opioid use. , but that its price raises concerns.

Insurance, he said, typically doesn’t cover the cost of over-the-counter products.

At around $45, its cost may be too high for many, including friends and family who wish to carry Narcan with them as a precaution.

Williams, of Emergent, said many people will still be able to get rid of Narcan from community organizations and local health departments.

The opportunity to have Narcan available in the form of what retailers can supply, online and expanding, is critically important, he said.

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