ALBANY – Governor Andrew Cuomo Wednesday announced independent pharmacies across the state will now be able to provide naloxone to their customers without a prescription.
Naloxone – also known as Narcan® — is a medication that reverses opioid overdose. Improved accessibility to the medication is one of the priorities at the center of the Governor’s fight to end opioid abuse in New York State.
The governor said that by making Narcan available in drugstores without a prescription, the state is continuing to prevent needless tragedies from occurring and ensuring that all New Yorkers have access to this critical medication.
When administered either through injection or by nasal spray, naloxone temporarily blocks the effects of opioids allowing a stricken individual to regain consciousness. The potentially life-threatening opioids include medicines prescribed to address pain as well as illicit drugs such as heroin.
Naloxone poses no danger to individuals who come into contact with it, and has no potential for being abused. It works only if a person has opioids in his or her system; the medication has no effect if opioids are absent.
Independent pharmacies wanting to dispense naloxone under HRC’s standing order should send an email to naloxone@harmreduction.org.
New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the State’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369).
Visit www.combatheroin.ny.gov for more information on addressing heroin and prescription opioid abuse, including a Kitchen Table Tool Kit to help start the conversation about the warning signs of addiction and where to get help.
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