CVS Health today announced that naloxone is now available without a prescription at all New Hampshire CVS Pharmacies.
The life-saving medication reverses opioid overdoses. "Naloxone is a safe and effective antidote to opioid overdoses and by expanding access to this medication in our New Hampshire pharmacies by the use of a physician's standing order for patients without a prescription, we can help save lives," CVS Pharmacy VP of Pharmacy Professional Practices Tom Davis said. "We support expanding naloxone availability to give more people a chance to get the help they need for recovery and we applaud the State of New Hampshire for its leadership in the fight against drug abuse and addiction."
By allowing the purchase of naloxone without a prescription, families and friends of those addicted to prescription opioid drugs as well as illegal opiates can keep the medication on hand for emergencies. CVS Health is also working with the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids in New Hampshire. The joint program, Medication Disposal for Safer Communities, has donated 12 disposal units to police departments. The program has collected more than 1,665 pounds of unwanted prescription medications.
"The opioid epidemic has touched so many families in New Hampshire and across the U.S. and expanding access to naloxone is one important step in our efforts to address it," President and CEO of the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids Marcia Lee Taylor said. "We applaud CVS Health for increasing access to this life-saving drug for patients without a prescription at CVS Pharmacy locations in New Hampshire and in many other states across the country."
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