Many people started hearing about Naloxone when Prince was found dead. However, this drug has existed for a long time and has been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Naloxone is used to prevent opioid overdoses from drugs like Oxycodone, heroin, and morphine. It can be given via intravenous injection, intranasal spray, subcutaneous (under the skin), and intramuscular (into the muscle). The medicine should be used when the patient is showing signs of an overdose from opioids.
However, Naloxone is a controversial drug. While some people don’t believe in their benefits to prevent deaths because they believe it gives those with substance abuse or addiction a “free pass” to overdose and continue using.
On the opposing end of the debate, others think that it needs to be more heavily available and shouldn’t even require a prescription. There have been several studies pointing to the fact that it has been able to prevent many opioid overdose deaths in the last few years.
Due to these differences, the access to the overdose reversal drug varies between the states.
Where Can You Buy Naloxone Without a Prescription?
As of now, 14 states allow you to buy Naloxone without a prescription:
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- Long Island
- Arkansas
- Tennessee
- Wisconsin
- North Dakota
- Montana
- California
- South Carolina
- Utah
- Mississipi
- Pennsylvania
States That Allow You to Carry Naloxone Without Criminal Liabilities
There are other states that allow you to carry Naloxone without any criminal liabilities, such as:
- California
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Maine
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- New Hampshire
- North Dakota
- New York
- Rhode Island
- Texas
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- West Virginia
And until recently, Naloxone was only available through hospitals, paramedics, clinics or first responders. However, you can now get it at Wal-Mart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid through their pharmacies in different states.
Four states are also running a “test” by allowing it to be added to a public school inventory by a nurse. These states include Massachusetts, Vermont, Delaware, and more recently, New York.
Usually, when a drug similar to Naloxone becomes available in different states, the prices tend to lower. However, not only the prices have been increasing, but experts expect this rise in price to continue. The different companies producing Naloxone, like Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Kaleo, or Adapt Pharma, have been increasing their profits not only because demand is rising as they’re taking the opportunity to make more money along the process.
Prices tend to vary depending on the pharmaceutical company and the state. For example, you can get Narcan from Adapt Pharma in Illinois for $20 to $40 which includes a full kit with everything you need to reverse an overdose.