February 16, 2023
Opioid/Substance Use Disorders | Tea Leaves
  • Two federal panels of addiction experts on Wednesday unanimously recommended that Narcan, the overdose-reversing nasal spray, be made widely available without a prescription, a significant step in the effort to stem skyrocketing drug fatalities. Making Narcan an over-the-counter drug has been urged by doctors, patient advocacy groups, and the Biden administration. The unanimous vote by the committees, which advise the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), makes it highly likely that the FDA will approve an over-the-counter version of the drug, also known generically as naloxone, next month. It could potentially become available in vending machines, schools, convenience shops, big box stores, and supermarkets by summer. (Articles here, here, here, here, and here)