CVS Health’s Rx-free naloxone effort to reach 30 states by August

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Health on Wednesday announced that its push to curb opioid overdose by providing overdose reversal drug naloxone without a prescription would hit 30 states by August through expansion to seven new states this summer. The initiative works by establishing a standing order with an in-state physician to allow pharmacists to dispense the drug to patients without individual prescriptions. The company has already begun dispensing naloxone in 23 states. 

 

“Naloxone is a safe and effective antidote to opioid overdose and by expanding availability of this medication, we can save lives and give more people a chance to get the help they need for recovery,” CVS Pharmacy VP pharmacy professional practice Tom Davis said. “By establishing a physician-authorized standing order that allows our pharmacies to dispense naloxone to patients without an individual prescription, we strengthen our commitment to helping the communities we serve begin to address the challenges of prescription drug abuse.” 

 

Starting in late May, CVS pharmacists will be able to dispense naloxone without a prescription in N.M., followed by La. in early June; Fla. in early July; Colo., Idaho and Ore. in mid-July; and Wash. in August.  In addition to the naloxone dispensing efforts, CVS has begun putting drug abuse prevention resources on CVS.com and launched Pharmacists Teach, a program in which pharmacists visit local high school health classes to discuss the dangers of drug abuse.

 

CVS Health has also worked with the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids on the Medication Disposal for Safer Communities program, which has given more than 500 drug disposal units to police departments nationwide. 

 

“CVS Health has been a leader in the work of helping communities prevent prescription drug abuse,” Partnership for Drug-Free Kids president and CEO Marcia Lee Taylor said. “In addition to proper disposal of unwanted medication, 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.”