CVS Pharmacy Offers Narcan in Several US States

In September of 2015, CVS Pharmacies announced that it would be expanding access to Narcan, the overdose antidote, in order to fight growing rates of overdose deaths across the country. 

At the time of this announcement, only two states were capable of providing Narcan over the counter: Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Now, Arkansas, California, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin are able to do the same (Wilkerson, 2016). Narcan is sold as an inhaler or as an injection. 

In addition, CVS Health is “currently involved in a research project . . . to demonstrate the use of naloxone rescue kits to help reduce opioid addiction and overdose deaths” (Wilkerson, 2016). According to CVS Pharmacy Vice President of Pharmacy Professional Practices Tom Davis, “Naloxone is a safe and effective antidote to opioid overdoses and by providing access to this medication in our pharmacies without a prescription in more states, we can help save lives” (Wilkerson, 2016). 

Wilkerson, M. (2016). CVS Pharmacies will now offer naloxone in twelve new states. Retrieved from https://www.thefix.com/cvs-pharmacies-will-now-offer-naloxone-12-new-states