In the United States, it was allowed to sell a drug that helps with drug overdose without a prescription.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved naloxone for over-the-counter sale. However, you can buy a nasal spray called Narcan without a prescription. This drug reverses opioid overdose, including heroin and fentanyl.
More than 100 thousand people die from overdoses in the United States every year. Naloxone is usually carried by police and other emergency services at all times, and the drug is also often distributed free of charge by employees of public organizations. Most states previously allowed naloxone to be sold without a prescription, but not every pharmacy had it. Already in summer, the drug will be available for sale online, at gas stations and in grocery stores. However, it is not yet clear whether insurance companies will continue to cover the purchase of this medicine. A dose of Narcan now costs about $25. In addition, experts fear that once prescriptions are cancelled, the drug will no longer be profitable and manufacturers may stop producing it.
Author: Denis Cheredov
