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Results sorted by posted date (oldest first)
Results sorted by posted date (oldest first)
Posted 4/4/2023 (updated 3/27/2024)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that the makers of Narcan, an opioid overdose treatment, have the agency’s approval to make the drug widely available over the counter (OTC). Narcan is the brand name of the drug naloxone, a fast-acting overdose reversal. Until now, availability varied by state – typically restricted to licensed health care providers, approved opioid overdose programs, and first responders. This is an important consideration for rural counties given that research shows that these areas are nearly three times more likely than metropolitan counties to be a low-dispensing county for naloxone.
Posted 7/21/2023 (updated 3/28/2024)
Disparities in access to naloxone exist and organizations are working to remove some of these barriers by utilizing innovative methods such as vending machines to distribute the overdose medication. This provides life-saving medication in an accessible way to everyone, although laws vary state to state on the distribution of these tools. More information on naloxone vending machines can be found in these resources by the Bureau of Justice Assistance's (BJA) Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP) and The Network for Public Health Law.
Posted 7/31/2023 (updated 3/26/2024)
At the end of July 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a second over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray product, RiVive. The agency who received the approval to manufacture the product, Harm Reduction Therapeutics, does not yet have a timeline of availability and decision on pricing.
Posted 1/19/2024 (updated 3/28/2024)
The FDA announced that the manufacturer of NARCAN 4 mg Nasal Spray products, Emergent BioSolutions, has extended the shelf-life of their product from 3 years to 4 years. This new extension of shelf-life was requested by the FDA to help prevent overdoses and reduce overdose-related deaths.