CVS makes naloxone available without prescription in Colorado

CVS has made naloxone available without a prescription in Colorado.
CVS has made naloxone available without a prescription in Colorado. | shutterstock
CVS Health announced today that naloxone, an opioid overdose-reversal medication, is now available without a prescription in its Colorado locations after CVS came to terms on a standing order with physicians across the state.

"Naloxone is a safe and effective antidote to opioid overdoses and by expanding access to this medication in our Colorado 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 are dedicated to helping the communities we serve address and prevent drug abuse and we are expanding access to naloxone to give more people a chance to get the help they need for recovery."

Partnership for Drug-Free Kids President and CEO Marcia Lee Taylor applauded the action.

"CVS Health has been a leader in helping communities prevent prescription drug abuse and we applaud their work to increase access to this life-saving drug for patients without a prescription at CVS Pharmacy locations in Colorado," Taylor said. "Increasing access to naloxone is a critical public health priority that allows patients and their families to prevent opioid fatalities and recognize when people need help working towards recovery from the disease of addiction."

In addition to Colorado, CVS Pharmacy locations in 30 other states are able to dispense naloxone to patients without an individual prescription.