OTC Narcan Will Improve Access and Availability
This approval is a
major step in expanding access to naloxone and will allow people to easily
obtain the medication, increase the number of locations where it's available,
and help reduce opioid overdose deaths in the country. The FDA Commissioner,
Robert M. Califf, MD, stated in a press release that "today's approval of
OTC naloxone nasal spray will help improve access to naloxone, increase the
number of locations where it's available and help reduce opioid overdose deaths
throughout the country."
Cost and Availability of OTC Narcan
The price of the
OTC Narcan nasal spray will be determined by Emergent BioSolutions, the drug
manufacturer. The company stated that the product should be available in the US
by late summer, but it has not yet disclosed the cost. Although naloxone is
already available nationwide to people with a prescription, the federal
government has made it legal for pharmacies and healthcare facilities to
distribute naloxone to people without a prescription. But the availability and
cost of naloxone to people without a prescription vary across states.
Expanding Access to Narcan Hinges on Affordability
The cost of OTC
Narcan nasal spray will play a significant role in expanding access to the
medication. While making naloxone available over-the-counter is a critical step
in increasing access, affordability remains a major concern. José Martinez, a
harm reduction associate at the National Harm Reduction Coalition, points out
that access to naloxone can be free or low-cost through state-level standing
orders, but some pharmacies have charged high amounts for the medication. He
says that the cost of OTC Narcan nasal spray needs to be affordable to ensure
access for everyone.
More Work Needed to Get Narcan into At-Risk Communities
Narcan nasal spray
was introduced in 2016 to be used by non-healthcare professionals. However,
only the 4 mg nasal spray has been approved for over-the-counter sale. As
efforts continue to curb overdoses in the US, the focus needs to be on ensuring
that overdose-arresting medications reach the communities most affected. The
COVID-19 pandemic has added to the challenge of reaching these communities, and
more work is needed to ensure that naloxone is readily available where it is
most needed.
Conclusion
The approval of OTC
Narcan nasal spray by the FDA is a significant step in expanding access to
naloxone and reversing the effects of an opioid overdose. However,
affordability remains a major concern, and efforts need to be made to ensure
that the medication is accessible to everyone. In addition, more work is needed
to ensure that naloxone reaches the communities most affected by the opioid
epidemic.
