CVS Expands Availability of Over-the-Counter Narcan

Sept. 24--A drug that can reverse the life-threatening effects of heroin and other opioids and opiates will now be available without a prescription at CVS stores across Pa.

CVS previously offered Narcan -- a non-addictive nasal or intravenous treatment that revives those who have overdosed -- for those with a prescription nationwide and for those without in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and on Wednesday announced plans to expand the availability of the drug to store locations in an additional 12 states.

Residents of Arkansas, California, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah Wisconsin and Pennsylvania will be able to purchase Narcan at a local store without a doctor's consent before the month's end.

The use of Narcan in York County has been a visible one; since it was first distributed for use in police departments at the beginning of April, there have been 40 lives saved as of the end of August.

Even school security teams have been trained to administer the overdose reversal medicine in emergency situations. The York City School District's resource officers were recently approved as the first school security team in the county to carry Narcan.

Narcan will be available in CVS stores across the county at their four locations in Metro York as well as in the Dover, Hanover, Red Lion and Shrewsbury stores.

-- Reach Jessica Schladebeck at jschaldebeck@yorkdispatch.com.

Copyright 2015 - The York Dispatch, Pa.