Narcan, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses, can now be sold over the counter after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it in 2023. However, the question remains: are enough stores stocking this potentially life-saving drug?
In an investigative effort, NBC News reporters conducted visits to 64 stores across 15 states and Washington, D.C. over three weeks in February. Their findings revealed that while most major drugstores and big-box pharmacy chains carried Narcan, convenience stores and gas stations didn’t.
In addition to its lack of availability, the report also mentioned that at some stores it was difficult to figure out where the Narcan was located.
“For a product like Narcan, anonymity is part of access. The stigma of walking into a brightly lit store and asking the pharmacist or another employee for Narcan behind the counter may be the biggest hurdle,” the NBC News story reads.
As Emily’s Hope reported a few weeks ago, the White House has launched a challenge to increase training and access to opioid overdose reversal medications, including Narcan.
Emily’s Hope is prioritizing this cause by introducing Narcan dispenser boxes. With the generous support of the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, these boxes will provide free access to Narcan throughout the city of Sioux Falls.
