FDA Decides to Make Naloxone Nasal Spray Widely Available to Consumers by the End of Summer
Shatterproof applauds the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and its decision to recommend that a naloxone formulation (commonly known as Narcan) be available for over-the-counter use with widespread availability by the end of the summer. With the number of drug overdoses in the U.S. increasing more than 17% in just one year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Narcan can be used for opioid overdose reversal. The medication reverses deadly overdoses by blocking the effect that opioids have on the nervous system, and it must be administered as soon as an overdose is suspected to be effective. Currently, police and other first responders often carry Narcan and have saved countless lives within a matter of minutes as a result. Because of the FDA’s decision, Narcan will soon be available for purchase in drug stores, convenience stores, grocery stores, gas stations and online.
“Narcan is a long-term and life-saving resource,” said Tom McLellan, Ph.D., a member of the Shatterproof Scientific Advisory Council, founder and chairman of the Treatment Research Institute, and former deputy director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under President Obama. “Today’s decision is of great public health significance given that drug overdose deaths are more than 101,000 in the past year.”
Drug overdose deaths, with opioids being the most prevalent drugs, are the leading cause of accidental and preventable deaths in the U.S., according to the CDC.
Shatterproof is a national organization focused on guiding communities, removing systemic barriers to recovery, mobilizing the country to advocate for change, and ending addiction stigma. Shatterproof has advocated for legislation and been on the forefront of improving access to this life-saving medication, including state laws and funding, since its inception.
Shatterproof has a number of resources about Narcan, including how to use it, where to get it, and how to save a life, along with a use training video. Additionally, Shatterproof ambassadors — individuals in recovery and/or with lived experience — have saved lives as a result of Narcan.
To address the opioid epidemic, access to Narcan is a vital resource to improve the quality of addiction treatment.
ABOUT SHATTERPROOF:
Shatterproof is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to reversing the addiction crisis in the U.S. Shatterproof harnesses the models of business, the rigor of science and the power of a national movement to create change and save lives through three pillars of work: revolutionizing the addiction treatment system, breaking down addiction-related stigmas and supporting and empowering our communities. Find Shatterproof on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube: @ShatterproofHQ or follow them on Instagram at @weareshatterproof. To learn more, visit www.Shatterproof.org. If you are experiencing anxiety, depression or a substance use disorder, text SHATTERPROOF to 741741 for help.
