Naloxone available without prescription at all CVS Hawkeye State locations

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Health on Wednesday officially announced the opioid overdose-reversal medicine naloxone is available without a prescription at all CVS Pharmacy locations in Iowa.

"Naloxone is a safe and effective antidote to opioid overdoses and by expanding access to this medication in our Iowa pharmacies by the use of a physician's standing order for patients without a prescription, we can help save lives," said Tom Davis, RPh, VP Pharmacy Professional Practices at CVS Pharmacy. "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 Iowa for their leadership in the fight against drug abuse and addiction."

CVS Pharmacy now dispenses naloxone to patients without an individual prescription in 41 states.

"Thanks to action we have taken in Iowa, first responders, family members, and others can now obtain and administer Naloxone more easily," said Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds. "I want to thank CVS Health for partnering in our multi-faceted approach to combat the opioid epidemic that has affected many Iowans.  We need to continue to work together to prevent, treat and respond to this epidemic."