Access to naloxone in underserved communities

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved naloxone nasal spray (Narcan) for over-the-counter use to reverse opioid overdose.1 This means it can be purchased without prescription in retail stores and online alongside other commercial products. Narcan is expected to be available over the counter by late summer 2023. The change may decrease barriers to accessing naloxone but could increase the cost and compromise existing harm reduction programmes.Overdose deaths remain a big problem in the US: more than 101 000 people died from overdose in 2022,2Please use this one instead:Ahmad FB, Cisewski JA, Rossen LM, Sutton P. Provisional drug overdose death counts. National Center for Health Statistics. 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htmI edited this information in the reference list. primarily related to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. Annual opioid overdose deaths have increased more than eightfold since 1999.3 People from low income groups, rural areas, and communities of colour are disproportionately affected.4 Access…
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