The Food and Drug Administration approved Narcan — the opioid overdose-reversal medication, also known by its generic name naloxone — for over-the-counter, nonprescription use Wednesday.
The decision comes about a month after an FDA advisory panel unanimously voted to recommend the naloxone nasal spray to be sold over the counter.
This approval will allow the 4-milligram naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray to be sold in more locations without a prescription, making it more accessible for those who use or are close to people who use opioids.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were more than 107,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2021.
There were 168 overdose deaths in Santa Barbara County last year, with 115 of those deaths related to fentanyl, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s-Coroner’s Office.
In 2021, Santa Barbara County saw 133 overdose deaths, with 78 related to fentanyl and in 2020, there were 113 total overdose deaths, 37 of which were related to fentanyl.
In response to the information, the Sheriff’s Office started a free Narcan Distribution Program this week at the Sheriff’s Headquarters, located at 4434 Calle Real in Santa Barbara, at the Carpinteria substation at 5775 Carpinteria Avenue, and at the Santa Maria substation at 812 West Foster Road.
This program allows anyone to receive Narcan, as well as information about a short instructional video, at any of these three stations during business hours, without having to provide any personal information.
Other free Narcan distribution locations in Santa Barbara County can be found on the county’s “Fentanyl is Forever” website here.
Melissa Wilkins, division chief of the county’s Alcohol and Drug Programs, told Noozhawk that there were over 1,100 overdose reversals reported locally between 2018 and 2021, not including naloxone administered by first responders.
While the transition to switch Narcan from prescription to over-the-counter status could take months, the FDA has said that it will work with stakeholders and federal partners to ensure the continued availability of Narcan.
“Today’s action paves the way for the life-saving medication to reverse an opioid overdose to be sold directly to consumers in places like drug stores, convenience stores, grocery stores and gas stations, as well as online,” the FDA said in a statement Wednesday.
“The FDA remains committed to addressing the evolving complexities of the overdose crisis,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf. “We encourage the manufacturers to make accessibility to the product a priority by making it available as soon as possible and at an affordable price.”
