New Mexico's Luján, Gallagher and Garcia join CVS Pharmacy in the fight against opioid overdoses

U.S. Congressman Ben Ray Luján
U.S. Congressman Ben Ray Luján

CVS Health, U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), New Mexico Secretary of Health Lynn Gallagher and Santa Fe County Sheriff Robert Garcia joined forces yesterday to announce that naloxone is available in CVS Pharmacies across New Mexico. 

Naloxone is the life-saving medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose.

CVS Pharmacy VP of Pharmacy Professional Practices Tom Davis welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with New Mexico leaders in publicizing that naloxone does not require a prescription. Family members, friends and caregivers can purchase naloxone in injectable or easy-to-administer nose spray formulations.

"Throughout New Mexico, families are being hurt by the opioid drug crisis and communities are being torn apart," Luján said. "While there are countless people on the frontlines fighting to help our families, our friends, and our neighbors who struggle with drug abuse, it is clear that we must do more. That is why today, I am proud to stand alongside CVS as they work to increase access to the lifesaving drug naloxone."

Luján has been in the forefront of legislation to fund the fight against opioid abuse, including legislation for residential substance abuse treatment programs for pregnant women and new mothers. He is also on the Opioids Bill Conference Committee that hashes out compromises between differing House and Senate bills.

"Naloxone is an important tool for law enforcement, which is why we have launched the agency's first ever community-wide naloxone program," Garcia said. "Naloxone is now being used in the field by Santa Fe County Sheriff's deputies, who are trained in the use of naloxone and often have naloxone kits and CPR face masks in their assigned cruisers. We have seen this medication save lives and we are glad to see community partners like CVS Pharmacy increase access to naloxone here in Santa Fe and across the state."