Starting Sept. 2023, Narcan, a nasal spray used to save people from opioid overdoses, is now available for over-the-counter sale at pharmacies nationwide. After approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March, the naloxone product can now be purchased in stores such as CVS and Walgreens. The current price for a package that includes two single-dose devices is $44.99, compared to an approximately $70 prescription for the same amount.
“[Narcan will be] the first FDA-approved, over-the-counter 4-milligram naloxone product for the emergency treatment of opioid overdose,” said Emergent BioSolutions, the drug company that produces Narcan, in a recent press release.
Narcan, a form of naloxone, can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose without serious side effects. Many locations in Marin offer Narcan, including The Spahr Center, OD Free Marin, and Narcan Vending machines located in San Rafael and Corte Madera. Now with the FDA Approval, the medication is available nationwide, increasing the chances that those in need of Narcan will be able to access it.
Marin Public Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis is in favor of Narcan’s widespread distribution.
“Ideally, we want to make sure that anyone who’s experiencing an overdose has the opportunity to be revived with Narcan within a few short minutes, and the more Narcan that we have distributed across our community, the more likely it is that someone who’s experiencing an overdose will be revived by a bystander before the ambulances even arrive,” Dr. Willis said.
Over the past decade, synthetic opioids like fentanyl are increasingly more common in the drug supply, and drug overdose deaths have risen. According to the CDC, more than 150 people die every day from synthetic opioid-related overdoses. Because of this, Narcan’s increased access positively impacts communities across the country.
“Having Narcan available for free and over the counter [without a prescription] is important and increases accessibility to this life-saving medication that can reverse opioid overdoses. It is crucial that more people now have the option to be prepared to save a life,” said Beatrix Berry, the Wellness Outreach Specialist at Archie Williams.
While Narcan’s increased accessibility is a considerable achievement, Dr. Willis believes more progress must be made in reducing deaths from opioid overdoses.
“The next steps are really up to us in terms of increasing awareness… It’s hard to do better than just making something fully over the counter,” Willis said. “I think one ongoing challenge will be the fact that for some people, [Narcan] may be unaffordable in the pharmacy, depending on your insurance carrier, or whether or not you have insurance.”
Dr. Willis also stated that Marin County has an average of 1 fatal overdose per six days and two non-fatal overdoses daily, the majority of which are related to fentanyl. Continuing to increase accessibility and awareness of Narcan is essential to lower those numbers and further prevent the devastating effects of opioid overdoses.
