Naloxone Availability
Naloxone, often found under the brand name Narcan is a opiate antagonist used on overdose victims to block opiate receptors and reverse the overdose. Taking naloxone results in an opiate addict going into withdrawals and requires medical attention after being administered. In addition, while naloxone can assist in saving an individual from a fatal overdose, it is not a replacement for drug and alcohol treatment.
Naloxone Laws by State
CVS and WALGREENS pharmacies in these states provide or will provide by year end, naloxone without a prescription.
To view naloxone laws by state visit Choopers Guide or lawatlas.org. Read more on individual states and naloxone availability by viewing listings below.
CVS and Walgreens Offer Naloxone
CVS pharmacies in eight more states will have access to the overdose-reversal drug naloxone, CVS Health said Monday. Starting at the end of March, CVS pharmacists in Connecticut, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Ohio, Virginia, and Vermont will be able to dispense naloxone without a prescription. CVS pharmacies already provide naloxone in Arkansas, California, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin.
Walgreens announced in February that it would make the drug available without a prescription in 35 states and Washington, D.C., in accordance with each state’s pharmacy regulations. Naloxone may now be purchased without a prescription at Walgreens stores in Alabama, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania.
Alabama
In Alabama family members can get a prescription from a doctor or dentist to have on hand.
The opioid antidote naloxone is now for sale without a prescription at more than 110 Walgreens pharmacies in Alabama, the company announced Monday (April 27). The drug can be administered as a nasal spray or intramuscular injection to reverse the effects of an overdose of heroin or other opioids.
Alaska
Naloxone availability has not yet been expanded in Alaska however, there is movement to introduce such a law.
Arizona
Naloxone is not yet available without a prescription. Currently the drug is only available to Emergency first responders. One Lawmaker is pushing to change this however.
Read what State Representative Heather Carter, of north Phoenix and Cave Creek, is trying to do.
Arkansas
Arkansas was one of twelve states announced to receive over the counter naloxone by cvs pharmacies. In addition, it is available with a prescription and is carried by emergency personnel.
California
Naloxone has been available without a prior prescription since the beginning of this year. Click here to view a list of participating pharmacies in the state.
To read more on the legalization of over the counter naloxone, view the laws of California.
Colorado
Walgreens has made naloxone available over the counter as well as installing prescription return boxes at many of their locations.
In April of 2015 Colorado passed a bill expanding the availability of naloxone. read more.
Connecticut
Naloxone is available without a prescription at Walgreens in the state as well as other locations and pharmacies.
In addition laws have been put on place to protect those who report an overdose to the police.
Delaware
Currently naloxone is available in the state at Walgreens locations with a prescription.
Walgreens has stated that they are working with law officials to make the drug more freely available. Click here to read more.
District of Columbia
Walgreens lists D.C. as one of the places where naloxone will be available over the counter.
Florida
Naloxone has been made available without a prescription in the state of Florida, and should be available at most pharmacies. Walgreens has stated that they provide naloxone at their locations in the state.
Georgia
Naloxone is available from most pharmacies with a prescription. It is not however available without a prescription in this state. In addition there is support for families available from the Georgia Overdose Prevention organization.
Hawaii
Naloxone hydrochloride is available with prescription and is authorized for use by emergency first responders. A bill has been passed that takes effect July 1, 2016 for a naloxone program in Hawaii. Click here to read the details.
Idaho
Naloxone is available in Idaho at Walgreens locations. In addition individuals can learn how to administer Narcan with this video.
Illinois
Narcan is available at Walgreens locations in the state of Illinois. In addition, Good Samaritan Laws have been put in place so in the event an overdose is called in to the police, all parties involved are protected from legal persecution.
Indiana
Walgreens has stated that they will provided naloxone without a prescription to individuals in need. In addition, naloxone is available to third party individuals who need the drug in case of an emergency with their loved ones.
Iowa
Naloxone is available at most pharmacies with a prescription to both addicts and there families. It has also been expanded so all emergency personnel including police and firefighters to use.
Kansas
Unfortunately, Kansas is one of the few states that does not allow the prescribing of naloxone. The only carriers of naloxone are some EMS personnel or ambulances. Though there is push to expand the availability of this drug.
Kentucky
Naloxone is available without a prescription in the state of Kentucky at Walgreens locations.
Louisiana
After a rise in overdoses this year, the New Orleans health department has announced they have increased accessibility to the drug as well.
Maine
Naloxone is available over the counter at Walgreens locations in the state of Maine. Maine’s legislature overrode a veto by the governor to make naloxone available over the counter.
Maryland
Maryland is listed as one of the states that Walgreens has listed as providing naloxone without a prescription to those affected. This drug can be crucial in preventing and overdose resulting from heroin abuse. It has been legalized for pharmacies to dispense the drug without a prescription.
Massachusetts
Naloxone is available in the state of Massachusetts without a prescription. Both Walgreens and CVS have announced that they will dispense naloxone with out a prescription in Massachusetts.
Michigan
Naloxone is available with prescription and is carried by EMTs. There is a push in the state to expand the availability of the drug. In order to make it available over the counter without a prescription.
Minnesota
Minnesota is one of the states released by Walgreens to be provided with over the counter naloxone. In addition to this CVS has also announced they will do the same in the state.
Mississippi
The Emergency Response and Overdose Prevention Act states that pharmacists acting in good faith can dispense opioid antagonist under a prescription by standing order of a physician. – The Pharmacy Times
In addition to this naloxone is available without a prescription at both Walgreens and CVS.
Missouri
Naloxone is available with a prescription to both addicts and their family as of February this year. It is also carried by emergency responders, at this publishing we could not find any data on efforts to make the drug available without a prescription.
Montana
Naloxone is available without prescription from both CVS and Walgreens.
NOTE: Montana and South Dakota only allow naloxone to be dispensed without a prescription to the patient.
Nebraska
Walgreens offers naloxone without a prescription in Nebraska.
To read more about the legislature on naloxone in the state of Nebraska click here.
Nevada
As of May 2015 naloxone is available with a prescription to third party individuals and can be administered by emergency workers. However it is not available over the counter without a prescription.
New Hampshire
Last year it was reported that Emergency personnel administered Narcan over 2,800 times. It was do to this that the state began to expand availability of the drug.
Walgreens has announced that they will dispense naloxone without a prescription.
New Jersey
CVS has made naloxone available without a prescription in New Jersey. In addition Walgreens has also announced they will carry naloxone, available without a prescription.
New Mexico
New Mexico has passed a law to expand availability of naloxone and put in place laws to protect those who administer the drug.
In addition Walgreens has announced they will provide naloxone over the counter in the state.
New York
Over the Counter naloxone has been announced by the governor to be available at independent pharmacies. Both CVS and Walgreens have also both announced that they will provide naloxone over the counter in New York State.
North Carolina
North Carolina has been announced by Walgreens to cary naloxone available without a prescription.
In addition “Good Samaritan” laws have been included to protect those intervening from legal persecution.
North Dakota
CVS has announced that they will sell naloxone without a prescription in South Dakota.
Ohio
CVS has announced that they will provide naloxone without a prescription to those in need. In addition they have put out a listing of locations where you can receive naloxone.
Oklahoma
Naloxone has been made available without a prescription at 34 pharmacies in Oklahoma. Walgreens has also announced that they will provide naloxone without a prescription at their locations in the state.
Oregon
Currently, a prescription is needed for naloxone in Oregon. There is a naloxone 2016 bill which will allow pharmacists to distribute naloxone without a prescription.
To read a story about the live saving effects of naloxone in Portland click here.
Pennsylvania
Naloxone is available over the counter at many locations through out Pennsylvania.
Rhode Island
Naloxone is available over the counter at many locations through out Rhode Island.
South Carolina
Naloxone is provided at CVS locations in South Carolina.
Click here to read more about CVS making naloxone available over the counter in South Carolina.
South Dakota
Walgreens has announced that naloxone will be made available without a prescription in South Dakota.
NOTE: Montana and South Dakota only allow naloxone to be dispensed without a prescription to the patient.
Tennessee
Both Walgreens and CVS have announced making naloxone available over the counter in Tennessee.
In addition “Good Samaritan” laws have been passed in Tennessee to read more on this click here.
Texas
Walgreen’s is providing naloxone without a prescription to both addicts and their loved ones in Texas
Utah
Both Walgreens and CVS have announced that they will provide naloxone to those in need in the state of Utah.
For more information on naloxone in Utah click here.
Vermont
Vermont has organizations that provide overdose emergency kits containing naloxone. To find out the nearest organization click here.
Virginia
Virginia is listed as one of the states which Walgreens announced would be provided with naloxone without a prescription.
To read more about naloxone in Virginia click here.
Washington
To find help attaining naloxone in case of an emergency with your self or a loved one click here.
Walgreens has also agreed to provide naloxone over the counter in Washington state.
West Virginia
Naloxone is available in West Virginia with a prescription to those connected to an individual with an opiate addiction. In addition police and emergency medical workers are allowed to carry the drug. There is talk of a bill coming out sometime this year that would make the drug accessible over the counter.
Wisconsin
Naloxone has been made available without a prescription by both Walgreens and CVS.
To read more on the legal standing of naloxone in the state of Wisconsin click here.
Wyoming
Wyoming has no laws for naloxone.
Summary
While naloxone is life saving in the case of a heroin overdose and is an important tool to those who are struggling to handle an individual with an opiate abuse problem. Naloxone is not a treatment for addiction and those treated with it need to be put into a treatment program in order to actually resolve their substance abuse problem. Please call us today for assistance in getting them into a treatment center.
