CVS makes naloxone available without prescriptions in 12 more states

Naloxone is now available without a prescription at CVS pharmacies in 14 states, the company recently announced.

The drug, used to reverse opioid overdoses, had previously been available without a prescription at CVS pharmacies in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

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It is now also available at CVS pharmacies in Arkansas, California, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin.

"Over 44,000 people die from accidental drug overdoses every year in the United States and most of those deaths are from opioids, including controlled substance pain medication and illegal drugs such as heroin,” Tom Davis, RPh, vice president of pharmacy professional practices at CVS/pharmacy, stated. “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."

Naloxone can be dispensed with a prescription in other states where CVS operates. However, in most cases, state law must be changed to allow pharmacies to dispense naloxone without a prescription.

"We support expanding naloxone availability without a prescription and are reviewing opportunities to do so in other states," Davis said.

CVS is also working with researchers at Boston Medical Center and Rhode Island Hospital to analyze how pharmacies can be used to increase naloxone distribution. That project was funded with a $1.3 million grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.