Unfortunately, opioid overdoses have become a prominent issue in today’s society. And, in an attempt to decrease the number of these occurrences , Rite Aid (NYSE:$RAD) has been supplying naloxone, a medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, in its pharmacies.
On July 20th, Rite Aid disclosed that naloxone is now available at more than 360 pharmacies in South Carolina and Michigan without a prescription, subject to state rules and regulations. Previously, naloxone, which can be given through injection or nasal spray, was only available to the public with a prescription from a physician.
“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug overdose is the nation’s leading cause of accidental death, with opioids killing over 33,000 people in 2015, more than any other year on record,” said Rite Aid executive VP of pharmacy Jocelyn Konrad. “The opioid epidemic is a serious public health issue that requires immediate action, and that’s why Rite Aid remains committed to increasing customer access to this potentially lifesaving medication and raising awareness in the fight against drug abuse in the communities we serve.”
Mentioned previously, naloxone is used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, and it is available for purchase without prescriptions at Rite Aid pharmacies in 23 additional states including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Idaho, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Kentucky, maryland, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, New York, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Utah, West Virginia, and Vermont.
As of right now, Rite Aid has trained more than 11,000 pharmacists on naloxone dispensing. Also, Rite Aid is working to expand its naloxone dispensing program in other states in which naloxone is only available with a prescription.
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