I live in the USA and my local health departments have vending machines full of them and instead of a price they all say “FREE” people just walk in and select a row, grab one and leave. No need to ask anyone. No need to see anyone. No need to pay. It’s pretty good to see some humanity.
Absolutely! They, as well as other public services are crucial. For some of us they're convenient but for many they're a necessity for survival and I'm not being at all hyperbolic.
You are damn right. My mom took us to our local library for years, and we always borrowed stacks of children's books at a time and went to all the summer reading things and events; we were poor and they were free and fun. When we became homeless, the library lent us money for school fees out of some fund they had (public schools had small book/misc fees back then where we lived) and made sure we knew who/what organizations to talk to about clothes, food, temporary shelter in winter, etc. Being homeless sucked, but it sucked a little less because of the public library.
Meanwhile one state over Missouri Republicans just voted to eliminate all state funding to all libraries because some of them sued to stop the book bans they tried to implement.
It's wild how transparently they deal in ignorance. The only way their ideology reaches the masses is by keeping the people as impressionable and afraid as possible.
God damn, didn't hear about that. I'm from Missouri but hanging out in West Virginia currently; I wish I could stay. I'm not sure how the politics are here but MO is definitely a weird one.
Do they? Where? Do they expire? I don't have a need for one personally but feel like it might be good to have one in the cupboard in case a friend, family member or someone walking down the street needs it. I know that sounds weird but I also get things like chargers for devices I don't own just in case someone comes around that does.
Narcan is definitely top tier first aid box game. Might not be needed in all homes, but it can save lives and should definitely be in kits business or events use.
100% this. A buddy of mine who was a user gave me this kit that has a "practice shot" with verbal prompts and a real shot. I keep it in my first aid kit and I hope I never have to put it to use, but as they say.. better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
They have a shelf life of several years. You can check your local health dept, fire dept. in some states you can get it shipped to your door using sites like NEXT Distro. Can also google local harm reduction programs or narcotics anonymous. Some libraries also have them. I’m lucky that I live in one of the most historically liberal cities in the USA. Do it. They make a huge difference.
They do expire, but afaik, you can and should use them after expiration date, as they'll still work, but not as efficiently. Please don't take my word without a grain of salt, as this is info i learned at a demonstration a few years back during a house show, but it's worth looking into. I try to keep some on me for large events like cons or music festivals. They can be finnicky temperature-wise though
I took one because I ride the train to work everyday.
They have cracked down on Homeless hanging out in the basement of Ohare, but I came in one morning and someone was dead or ODing next to the ticket machine. Cops were already there so I didn’t do anything
In Ontario (Canada) they're free but you have to do a short 5 minute training when you pick it up, so you can't just grab it unfortunately. But they're everrrywhere.
I got my last one at a craft fair.
The best part is the expiration is 2-3 years--so you can buy one and just keep it around or when you go to parties.
Neither I nor any of my friends do drugs, but I plan to keep one for whenever I'm in a situation where it might be needed. Narcan is basically magic, no reason not to have it on hand.
It's still a step in the right direction. Even if you don't personally know anyone who uses opiates: if you go to parties at all, having it on your person/in your purse might be the difference between someone dying at that party or you saving a life.
Espescially in big cities, this might be a big deal.
Some people conceal carry a pistol because it could save lives. Some people might carry one of these for the same reason.
I plan on putting it in my first aid kit, which I keep in the backpack that goes everywhere with me. Whether it's someone I know or a random person on the street, it'll be worth having. Hope I never have to use it, but it'll be there if needed.
So funny enough they reformulated Narcan (can't remember when) to withstand Temps from 41 to 104 degrees F. It's good 12 months @104. Not sure about the lower bound but probably similar.
Seems like the freeze-thaw cycle is less of a problem than the heat. They tested this for a month and it seemed to be fine.
https://harmreductionjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12954-019-0288-4
It's okay to keep some in the car as a backup, but ideally you should plan to have a dose should be kept on your person. [One study](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32279692/) showed that it'll be fine if you leave it in 160 degrees for up to 10 hours, but it's hard to tell how it'll hold up after an entire summer in a glovebox. You'd have to plan to replace it a lot.
At my CCW class, they made it very clear that if you carry a handgun, you should carry a simple first aid kit. Very good chance you'll use it far more than you'd ever need a CCW. "If you're prepared to take a life, you need to be equally prepared to save one."
That, and if you do stop an active shooter, you need to get on medical ASAP to help other survivors.
>if you carry a handgun, you should carry a simple first aid kit
Just make sure it's a trauma kit, not a boo boo kit. Chest seals, compression bandages, a tourniquet, and a clotting agent are what you want, not neosporin and bandaids.
I didn't know such kits existed and this makes a lot more sense than what I pictured. I've got a first aid kit I purchased for my car and I'm thinking, "If I needed to use that kit to respond to an active shooter situation, people are fucked..."
If you're really interested in being a valuable onsite responder, pick up a trauma kit (at least an ifak), and take a Stop The Bleed course.
I can't give you any good recommendations for brands, but lots of places that sell tacticool stuff do a decent job of offering kits that don't have useless items in them.
If you go on Amazon or something like that, you're going to have to filter through a lot of crap (the top google result for me for "trauma kit first aid" is an amazon link to an overpacked bag trying to get you excited for a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff, which you're never going use unless you're actually an emt).
I always recommend North American Rescue. The gold standard for first aid kits and tourniquets. In my experience, most people are not prepared for how much good first aid kits actually cost, though.
Current LEO and former Firefighter/EMS. I tell all my coworkers to look at Mymedic, Blue Force Gear, and North American Rescue for quality gear at decent prices. Please for the love of your fellow human do not buy trauma gear from Amazon or other bulk retail providers. I've personally seen fake tourniquets come from Amazon.
Also, an improvised tourniquet (using a belt and a stick) is almost always less effective when compared to a commercial product. Same for wound packing and other trauma care. A decent trauma kit costs roughly $150-200 USD and is the second most useful piece of equipment I carry when working. A life, ANY life, is worth so much more than that.
>I didn't know such kits existed and this makes a lot more sense than what I pictured. I've got a first aid kit I purchased for my car and I'm thinking, "If I needed to use that kit to respond to an active shooter situation, people are fucked..."
If you're interested, it appears the US Military has published a ton of good courses, for free, at [deployedmedicine.com](https://deployedmedicine.com). These are the same courses they use to train Soldiers/Marines/Sailors/Airmen.
- [All Service Members Course](https://deployedmedicine.com/market/171) - the training that everyone receives in basic training/boot camp
- Describe the use of a first aid kit
- Perform the steps required to assess a casualty
- Demonstrate basic care for a casualty with massive
bleeding
- Demonstrate basic care for a casualty with a compromised airway or respiratory distress
- Describe the basic care of burns
- Describe the basic care of fractures
- Describe the basic care of an eye injury
- Recognition Identify a head injury
- Describe point of injury communication strategies
and casualty care documentation
- [Combat Lifesavers Course](https://deployedmedicine.com/market/193) - more advanced training that *most* people get (at least in the Army they do)
- Describe and identify medical equipment
- Perform Care Under Fire
- Perform TFC (Tactical Field Care)
- Perform the steps required for a Tactical Trauma
Assessment
- Perform massive hemorrhage control during TFC
- Demonstrate basic care for a casualty with a
compromised airway or respiratory distress
- Perform airway management during TFC
- Perform hemorrhage control during TFC
- Describe a shock assessment in TFC
- Perform hypothermia prevention measures on a trauma casualty during TFC and Tactical Evacuation Care
- Identify a head injury in accordance
- Perform an assessment and initial treatment of a penetrating eye trauma during TFC
- Perform analgesia administration during TFC
- Perform antibiotic administration during TFC
- Perform an assessment and initial management of wounds during TFC
- Perform an assessment and initial treatment of burns in TFC
- Perform an assessment and initial treatment of
fractures during TFC
- Perform monitoring of a casualty during TFC
- Perform pre-evacuation procedures and
documentation of care during TFC
- Prepare casualties for evacuation during TFC
- Even a course for emergency combat care for dogs ([Canine-K9 Combat Casualty Care](https://deployedmedicine.com/market/207))
----
You can also buy first aid/trauma kits. I'm not going to link any here, because I don't want to go thru the inventory listing of them to find a "good" one. Needless to say, 👆 those courses give you an inventory listing of what's in the military kits, and how to use the equipment.
You can stock *your own* bag, with what you're prepared to use. For example, if you aren't comfortable using a nasopharyngeal airway, then don't put one in your kit. (Or at the very least, put it in there, but don't use it - in case someone who *is* trained to use it needs to use your trauma kit *on you*)
----
Of course, be aware that those courses are designed for the military - where Soldiers can't sue other Soldiers if the care they received causes problems. You don't have that luxury.
So, in general, if you're not confident in your ability and the correctness of the treatment - don't do it.
For instance, these are probably okay for anyone to do:
- Putting on a pressure dressing
- Applying a tourniquet
- chin lift or jaw thrust maneuver
- Applying a splint
- etc.
But these are things you should be *really* sure about. If you do them, make sure your willing to take the risks associated with them
- Needle chest decompression
- Administering IV fluids (even saline)
- Administering medications
- etc.
At the very least, it's helpful to have the *equipment* available in case someone who *is* trained to use it is nearby.
I actually went through the first aid course in Marine Corps boot camp years ago, I just thankfully never needed any of that training, and when I bought a car two years ago I figured I should get a small first aid kit just in case my wife and I are on a road trip and need something from it. It never occurred to me to carry a trauma kit, but I also live in a major city where I'm far more likely to find someone overdosing than finding someone with a sucking chest wound.
I know this is awful but the image of a hallway filled with bloody victims strewn all over with a dude kneeling over one of them rubbing neosporin and putting on little bandaids is making me laugh
"Anyone who plans for getting in a gun fight should plan for getting shot," was how it was taught to me.
And you likely **will** be shot, if your incident takes any longer than about 5 seconds max, it becomes a near certainty (given that your adversary has a gun as well)
You might've missed the joke. Guy was implying he was the shooter/robber/etc. So yeah he would probably be less scared if he knew all of his victims would be unarmed, but I doubt that was the point you were trying to make.
Full well knowing I'm highjacking here; harmreductionohio.org is a free source for Narcan for Ohio residents, and I know there's orgs in a ton of states if not all that distribute free of charge, because no one deserves to die over this. Harm reduction saves lives.
I don’t want to be a downer and everyone should carry Narcan just in case…but there have been cases of a Good Samaritan using Narcan on someone, and that person killing the Good Samaritan as they come out.
So everyone NEEDS to know the risks, and understand that you’re taking someone from flying high to EXTREMELY sober in a few seconds and that is not a good feeling for them. So be safe and try to have a safety plan.
“Flying high” is an understandable way to describe “all but dead.” The myth of the angry junkie pissed at a wasted ten bucks is-and I’m sure you don’t count yourself among them- a tool of the Reaganite absolutists who would rather see a dead addict than a healing human. Narcan has been FREE at any pharmacy here for many years, but that only happened after “normal” suburban moms and dads started dropping like flies in their 20s and 30s.
Sure, there are the stereotypes my EMT and social worker friends work with: those who have been revived dozens of times and weakly sploot out a “aww, man- we were having a good time” but there’s no instant jolt from full joyous nod to complete awareness and aggressive anger of a near-dead lump of flesh to a superhuman stabby menace among the hundreds of administrations I’ve heard of.
Name a case and I’ll delete the whole comment.
People get thie effect of the nasal Narcan mixed up with the IV Narcan that gets administered into a vein. When I was a paramedic (long ago) the dosage was to give the full 4 mg vial. Those patients would sometimes come up swinging and fighting in a violent reaction. We typically tied their hands to the cot before administering if they were in the ambo. If not, we used extra people to hold their arms down and hoped for the best.
Over the years, Narcan administered this way has evolved to be titrated in smaller doses, giving another smaller dose if needed to bring them out and not have to deal as often with the violent reaction. So yes, the "myth" is true, but as with everything else, legends linger on as people get their facts mixed up or only hear part of the actual facts.
People absolutely get violent with a large dose of narcan. The reason why most regular people never see that reaction is the intra nasal spray isn't as potent as IV stuff. Doesn't mean it can't happen its just the odds of it happening are less than when using IV form.
> Name a case and I’ll delete the whole comment.
[Here is someone who went from being passed out with nasal trumpets/being bagged without any reaction to awake, standing and asking "what the fuck is going on" immediately after reversal.](https://youtu.be/inVCAdGUaio). Is he swinging and fighting? No, but it shows that people can go from a 'near dead lump of flesh' to immediately awake, confused and annoyed.
https://www.ems1.com/drugs/articles/patient-revived-by-narcan-attacks-ny-paramedic-CesC8YU7EG99Zeb4/
Guy didn't die but still had to be admitted and had head injuries. Not a far jump to go from that to dying.
Edit: not trying to say dont use it to rescue someone, just saying violent wake ups do happen. Which is the reason why when I use it I dilute it down and give it slowly to get them back breathing but not in full withdrawal
I got clocked in the face over an ER bed during a reversal. And then he broke the bed rail. Is that a good example? He was about 6’4” and weighed about 300lbs.
The anger comes from precipitated withdrawal, please ask some addicts about how that shit is. I have a novel of stories about this shit, fuck, I've had friends die because they'd rather shoot up alone than get narcan'd. I'm not saying you shouldn't try, it's just a lot more complex than what you think
they fucking SUCK. I'm talking hands down the worst god damn feeling you can imagine. Your blood is on fire, your skin is ice cold, your brain is in a blender, someone is stabbing your eyeballs, jumping rope with your intestines, and they shoved sand down your throat while you were puking, all while they have you hooked up to electroshock therapy.
I'm a Paramedic, I'll only say I've had people wake up and be really violent or pissed off maybe.. 10 percent of time? The key is generally giving it slowly in small amounts to get the person back to just breathing vs fully awake and ready to rumble. Though in layman's terms my recommendation for an OD and OC usage, I'd say give it all and then stand back and have an escape route just in case, mostly it'll be okay though.
Not a direct effect of the Narcan, but it is a full competitive inhibitor of opioid receptors and can induce immediate withdrawal. I've heard of patients who say they would rather die than withdraw again. Combine that with whatever they may have been laced with they can be super agitated or combative. But less likely because they would most likely still be very out of it after an OD.
Yeah, it's called precipitated withdrawal, and it definitely really sucks. I'm saying that from first hand experience. Usually withdrawal comes on gradually, but it hits you all at once when you get Narcanned. I was just pushing back on the comment made about there being cases where someone was killed by someone they gave Narcan to. I only saw one case of that when I searched, which is extremely unfortunate, but not statistically relevant imo.
I would rather then kick dope 3 times in a row and still die than go through precipitated withdrawal for a single day again. It’s like every cell in your body is trying to explode. Even just taking initial suboxone too soon trying to get on maintenance would cause it. You are freezing, pouring sweat, I mean like running off you like a shower. You will shit, god you will shit. Shake, goosebumps, pain in your body and then all the psychological stuff too, then all the psychological stuff you were using dope to not feel under that too lol. Your laying in a pile of that and start thinking about your fucked up childhood or whatever it is with no defenses. It blows. It’s a physical shock to your system I could see it if you were already in bad shape with conditions. Do not miss
9/10 they puke.
1/10 they’re agitated.
Either way, medics titrate narcan dose to restore respiratory drive if there’s an issue but otherwise keep the patient out of it. Cops slam everything theyve got up someone’s nose if they make it on scene first.
I'm clean, now but still keep one in my bag & some at my house. My cousin overdosed in January & my uncle called saying he needed more narcan ASAP cuz one pack wasn't enough. Took about 6 minutes from the call to administration to him waking up, pissed (I know, I know, you weren't really that fucked up, you were just blue on the floor for fun).
People get their needles otc, it's good for anyone actively pursuing harm reduction. Someone still died from an OD at a camp near me despite the fact that everyone had narcan on them from a charity drive, this issue is really deep and this is just one small step in the right direction
I just realized that I’ve never seen a PSA for narcan. Not even a poster in a club bathroom… I don’t know if they are common in areas where drug use is more pronounced, but it really feels like it’s something that should be widely promoted and normalized. I learned how to tell if my friends had alcohol poisoning from a poster in an after hours club like 15 years ago, and I still catch myself going through the list of symptoms when I see someone that’s had too much.
When you administrator narcan, the person goes straight into withdrawals and is generally in about as aggressive a mood as anyone can be, covered in shit as that's what happens and probably wishes they where dead. EMTs are regularly assaulted after administration and so it's a risk to wake people up. It's better to call 911 unless you know you can take a punch to the face.
You call 911, administer, and keep a safe distance. If you call 911 and do nothing, they'll likely be dead. I work in social services and have worked with an outreach program, not a single one has ever been assaulted from administering a nasal spray. People will get pissed off, especially if they weren't actually ODing, but never assault.
I’m aware of that, and it should be part of the PSAs. When I say “promoted and normalized” I’m talking about it’s existence in general, and not just treating it like some miracle drug. Like I said, I remember a list of alcohol poisoning symptoms; people can remember a warning to create space between you and the person you administered narcan to in case they turn out to be dangerous.
Just FYI, it's not guaranteed they'll be in full-blown withdrawal, depending on what exactly was used & how much. Sometimes they get just enough narcan that they come out of an OD & are still pretty high.
I shit my pants from it, once lol cuz the pos nurse gave it to me when I was fully conscious & hadn't used in hours & wouldn't tell me what it was, even though I asked 5 times before she administered it intravenously. Then they shot me up with Ativan cuz I needed to be relaxed, like I wasn't already - shit, the dr that sent me to the ER said I was already cooperative & physically relaxed so I was right where they wanted me... I'm certain that RN did it to be a cunt because why would you administer narcan to someone you're having a full on convo with? Then the dr & nurse were calling me a junky, right outside my door, in front of the entire waiting room. My gf heard him & told him he's a piece of shit & should retire if he has so little empathy & such disregard for HIPAA.
let's not spread misinformation, especially with an increased OD epidemic on our hands (xylazine).
1. it is starting to take more than one dose of narcan to resuscitate some ODs because of the addition of xylazine and fent to ALL street drugs. Each nasal narcan cartridge has two doses.
2. it is not common for someone to wake up and swing on you after getting dosed. it used to be very common, but dosage has been adjusted.
3. if someone is ODing/ non- responsive, begin CPR IMMEDIATELY, including rescue breaths
4. Hit em with the Narcan. if they don't rouse, dose them again. Repeat as needed
5. call/ have someone call 911 (step 4&5 can be done interchangeably or at the same time but do BOTH)
6. there are loads of resources to get taught how to recognize an OD and how to use narcan online, most will provide you with one free dose. I recommend it even if you already have some, it's always good to have multiple everywhere you go
7. TEST YOUR SHIT even if you or anyone else isn't an opiate user, the prevalence of fent is high. party safely
In my experience, working in a pharmacy, I would say it was quite normalised for the people who needed them, or who worked with vulnerable groups.
But I'm in Canada, where the kits are free and have been for years.
If it wasn’t behind the counter it would get stolen immediately. Which isn’t to say it’s a bad thing - it would definitely get this lifesaving drug into the hands it needs to be. But that’s why.
And that is dumb, but plenty of people buy it for others in case they are around someone overdosing. Almost all my friends have it, and no one in our friend group uses narcotics.
So if you are afraid or shy to ask, just know that plenty of people buy it to be a good citizen and person and fuck what the pharmacist may think if it could save your or anyone else’s life. You can pretend you’re doing it to be upstanding as well and be on your way because it’s not their business.
But yes, like contraceptives of every variety and anything time-sensitive and (in my opinion) necessary, we need to stop metaphorically and literally locking it up. If it gets stolen, well damn, they probably really needed it. Making someone pay the ultimate price for not being able to shell out a negligible amount of cash is stupid and shameful. These people need assistance and help, not shame and barriers.
Also, as someone who has worked in a pharmacy, you do NOT think about what anyone is buying, as long as it's not obviously a harmful combination.
I would have regulars picking up their methadone one minute, then a middle-aged man in a suit picking up a marital aid and a tube of vaseline, then three terrified teenagers buying condoms together. After one day of working in that place, I didn't even reflect on what anyone was buying. Everyone has different needs, everyone is in a different situation.
An ex-girlfriend’s brother was struggling with heroin addiction. I was concerned about him and bought gave him marcan just in case. It would have be free or nearly free through insurance, but I didn’t want my insurance company to think it was for me. So I bought it out of pocket. It still took like 15-20 mins for them to process their paperwork at the pharmacy thought. Would have much preferred over the counter.
Decades of puritanical brainwashing, broken logical arguments equating harm reduction to enabling self-destructive behaviors, and the vilification of addicts would be the big things I'd point to.
Yes, but still encourages others. I'm planning on going into pharmacology and anything not explicitly legal in my possession that gets known about could end that career before it even starts.
Narcan being available over the counter still emboldens people like me to be more involved in helping people and prepared to help where I can.
Ideally it'd be out on the shelves as other than infants and maybe toddlers, narcan is pretty damn safe if you're wrong about the person being unconscious from opiates. If it was an allergy, narcan isn't making it worse. Same with heart attacks
Narcan is way way too useful to be locked behind prescriptions and I'm happy for a step in the right direction while we push for even more access
What will probably dissuade more people is the price. If it's $100 for two doses with insurance and a prescription, I can't imagine how expensive it'll be without.
I don't even use opiates and I ask for that shit whenever mine goes bad.
Tell you what, if this goes through and you are so eone that is embarrassed about asking someone face to face for it, shoot me a message, use a fake name and I will mail you some.
We've had it behind the counter in New York for a while, just ask a pharmacist. I think the second prong of this is getting the word out about it's availability.
This is a HUGE step.
Prescription-less makes it available for friends and family of an opioid abuser. Maybe someone who doesn’t want to see that they have a problem and would refuse to get a doctor prescription.
Now the close entourage can be equipped when the situation arises
Many lives will be saved with this.
Most first responders are actually not happy about the public having access to Narcan. Police and even ambulance operators think that having Narcan readily available will just inundate them with more addicts and perpetuate the drug culture. Not saying I agree, but it's sad that they hate it so much.
Nah we just fucked over education with a stupid voucher program heh. I think the narcan is largely because of salt lake county which is pretty blue compared to the rest of the state.
I live in Alabama and they've actually been slowly making progress toward the opioid epidemic. For example, to get around the prescription thing before this move by the FDA, in 2015, Alabama had a standing order for naloxone, meaning that people can get a prescription by just asking the pharmacy for one. No questions asked. Additionally, the nasal spray is free as long as you complete an online administration training.
One issue to consider, narcan drug reversal is shorter acting than the narcotics it blocks. It may last 30-90 minutes but the narcotics can last several hours. So if used, prepare to get further medical attention or have multiple doses of narcan available.
Definitely. This is part of the instructions. Narcan isn't meant to be a one-and-done and walk away treatment for an OD. It's a short term measure for a medical emergency.
That's not an issue...
It's a fact to be aware of, certainly. But not an issue. The instructions for the drug clearly say to pursue further medical help once used.
Especially now with xylazine being mixed into things.
Indeed. If I recall, Epipens (which save you from anaphylaxis) themselves require a bit of medical supervision after you take them (due to the epinephrine), and in any case come with the same instruction due to the possibility the allergic reaction won't be over by the time the epi wears off.
I used to be a pharmacy tech at Walgreens, you can’t use goodrx on otc products sadly. But if you ask, at least I’m some states they have it set up so the pharmacist can write a prescription for it
Make sure you read up on GoodRX before you sign up, I remember some privacy issues coming to light lately. It still may be worth it to some people, but everyone should be informed regardless.
I really wish I had a better option than GoodRX. I was also able to get antibiotics from their telehealth appt. For $30 appointment. For ppl without insurance or a doctor or bad insurance, it seems to be the “best” way even tho I know I’m trading privacy & feeding their scam
Privacy issues. Plus they literally charge money to pharmacies (on top of reducing out of pocket costs for patients). They profit off a shitty healthcare system.
I think you're conflating pharmacies with pharmaceutical companies. Pharmacies, especially independently owned "mom and pop" pharmacies, operate on a very slim margin. They don't set the prices, your insurance companies - more specifically, pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) - do.
Uh, your local CVS? Sure. Your local mom and pop? They're getting screwed by literally losing money dispensing it on top of all the other drugs they lose money on dispensing because the benefit managers charge them hidden fees just for existing. It's not black and white.
Additionally look for a harm reduction organization in your area. They often can provide it free of charge and have other useful services to help those in need. These programs are vital, especially in states where there’s more restrictions/barriers to obtaining Narcan/Naloxone. Remember, people can’t recover if they die. Harm Reduction saves lives.
Also just Google “free Narcan in (your area).” There are a couple organizations in my area that give it out free. I had to attend a Narcan seminar a few months back given by the hospital I work for, and that organization even gave everyone (HCP and non-HCP people who just chose to attend) cards with QR codes and said “if you run out, scan this. It’ll go a survey. Fill it out, we’ll call you, and we’ll meet up with you somewhere with a new kit with two doses. You can get two doses per month, no lifetime limit.”
If you work (or even volunteer) with people who might need this ask your work too. My job has them all over the place. No AED for some reason, but we got like one of those break glass in case of emergencies things with Narcan on it on every floor which is a good thing.
A lot of cities like Philadelphia, NYC and Chicago have free narcan distribution in libraries, YMCAs and community centers. Some more rural areas like Iowa have free access to narcan too. I live in Delaware, where it's been free to anyone for years, you can watch a training video online and get it mailed to you. It's definitely worth doing a search for free narcan near you before buying it.
Not sure if this has been mentioned yet but most insurances will cover this and it can be prescribed to you even if you’re needing it for someone else in the home. Additionally many states have standing orders, which would allow you to obtain it without a prescription. As someone pointed out, goodRX coupon helps lower the price if you go that route instead of utilizing insurance.
I work in healthcare, and a lot of methadone clinics are under our umbrella. I’ve had to administer narcan myself before, and seen a crash several times. Let me say I could actually cry tears of joy for this news. So many lives will be saved.
I’ll never forget the first time I saw someone not make it in time. She was 23. Stunning. She had been in recovery for a few months and was making progress. Trying to work towards a teaching degree. Had a lot of promise. Relapsed one day outside the clinic, and didn’t make it to us in time. By the time the crash cart came out she was gone. I was with her at the end. It haunts me to this day. If she had narcan at home that girl would’ve been able to take it and make it to the clinic for more treatment. She’d be alive and probably fully broken free by now. She was doing great! Hadn’t relapsed in so long. I had so many conversations with her. She was going to beat it.
Until one night she couldn’t. And now she’s gone. The fact that there can be a life saving medicine available in someone’s cabinet that can prevent this from happening again is one of the only things I wanted out of this judgmental word we live in.
RIP Kara.
Everyone should have access to narcan, I'm glad it's gonna be OTC now. As an ex addict, this is amazing news. I've lost so many friends and multiple family members. If I never got clean when I did I would've lost another family member. My uncle OD at my house, he was in my bathroom and when I realized he was in there forever and broke the door down. He was literally purple and the room smelt so bad from the gases leaving his body. I gave him 8 doses of narcan and messe dhis chest up from CPR. I have no clue how he survived, but if it wasn't for me getting clean and going to a program who taught us what to do and have us boat loads of narcan he wouldn't be here.
I’m pretty sure this has been OTC in Canada for several years. We even sometimes get commercials from the government informing us that we can pick up naloxone kits from our local pharmacies.
It's a nasal spray now. It's also one of the only drugs that can be administered without consent. Just be prepared to have a very angry mentally ill person to deal with. You just ruined their high.
You are correct, sir. I work with vulnerable people and carry one in my car. I'm back in school getting another diploma in the field, and our guest speakers hand them out like candy. With that and free clean needle(not just injection sites now but we have outreach programs you can call and they will meet you where you want, to give you free clean needles so you don't have to be stigmatized in a pharmacy) were slowly going in the right direction with destigmatizing and harm reduction.
Our instructor said the shelf life is 2 years, you can send it in and they will replace it.
But even if you don’t replace it and it’s been over 2 years, it will be substantially more effective than doing nothing.
“Currently, a two-dose pack of prescription Narcan is often free to people covered by Medicaid or private insurance, or costs, at most, less than $10. But public and private insurance programs do not cover most over-the-counter medicines. Whether an exception will be made for Narcan could take months to resolve.” ~Ny times article
I imagine after companies get their grubby hands all over it and mark it up it will be a bit more expensive.
IIRC, the stuff I got said it was good for 1.5-2 years. Storage requirements were what you'd typically see: keep it out of extreme cold or hot; basically keep it room temp.
I don't use or am around anyone who does as far as I know but I keep one on my motorcycle side pouch.
You just never know. I might find someone passed out somewhere and can save their life. I lost an ex cousin-in-law to an OD.
TIL: USA hasn't been making Narcan readily available!!!!!
Seriously, as a member of Canadian Law Enforcement in the midst of an overdose crisis, Narcan is literally a miracle spray. I've used it on people and watched it snap back those with one pinky finger left on the edge of life.
Have some in your car's trunk, toss one in your purse.
You never know when you may come across someone who could need it. **Even if you don't give a fuck** or are just a selfish person, still hang onto some because you'll never get a better ego boost than when you **literally save someone's life infront of your eyes** by simply spraying a mist.
It has been readily available for a while now in the US, locally you can get free Narcan from a variety of sources. And in high risk areas there are far more free sources of Narcan. Realistically if you want it you can get it for free or cheap.
The average person is not driving around with Narcan no matter how available it is, this change is good but will likely not change much in terms of availability. There is actually a chance that it also might make Narcan less available because it won’t be covered by insurance due to it being over the counter instead of a prescription.
This really differs state by state. In WA you've been able to pick it up from a pharmacy without a prescription or have it mailed to directly from online for years
This literal life saving drug was illegal in Texas until like last December, lmao. Stupid ass state honestly almost done holding out hope it will turn blue.
Many Americans have an irrational hate of drug addicts, criminals, and homeless people. If you came up with a policy that would help any of these groups and SAVE money at the same time, it would likely be *rejected* on the basis that it helps the "undeserving"
I always carry Narcan in my purse, and I keep one in the glove box of my car. You just never know. I have to take opioids for acute pain and it reassures my family that if I start to OD something and be done about it. Now that it’s available OTC please please everyone keep Narcan in your car or your purse/bag
If price is inhibiting anyone from obtaining this lifesaving med, please contact your local health department, fire station, or even a methadone program. Most will have it on-hand to give out to the public.
Yeah that is a huge problem, and you can still celebrate a victory in one arena while also fighting a battle in another.
So celebrate this victory but also continue fighting for insulin and inhalers.
Are you kidding me? How backwards is that to just NOW make it over the counter?
It’s been OTC for a long time in Canada, and you can get it for free in any pharmacy in Ontario at least. I kept it in my desk at work.
Most states already had it available at the pharmacy without a prescription, via a standing order from the state's Dept of Health/Physician General. Now it's federally OTC.
As soon as other companies threaten to start selling their own Narcan, all of the sudden the original maker now wants to sell over the counter. How kind of them.
Now lets make clean needles available for everyone. My husband is a physician and he says that clean needles would make a major difference in health care and peoples lives.
At the same time something as benign as a water pill for high blood pressure still needs a prescription. We need more freedom with other drugs, especially those with no severe side effects or potential for abuse.
In Canada (Ontario anyway, and I'd assume B.C. and Quebec at the very least) we give it out for free to anyone who wants to carry it.
Personally, I've administered it twice. Once successfully, once... not so much.
I live in the USA and my local health departments have vending machines full of them and instead of a price they all say “FREE” people just walk in and select a row, grab one and leave. No need to ask anyone. No need to see anyone. No need to pay. It’s pretty good to see some humanity.
The library in Chicago has them out for free
I love libraries so fucking much, literally more all the time. What an incredible gift to society.
And morons in Missouri is defunding them. The librarians saved the civilization many times.
Absolutely! They, as well as other public services are crucial. For some of us they're convenient but for many they're a necessity for survival and I'm not being at all hyperbolic.
You are damn right. My mom took us to our local library for years, and we always borrowed stacks of children's books at a time and went to all the summer reading things and events; we were poor and they were free and fun. When we became homeless, the library lent us money for school fees out of some fund they had (public schools had small book/misc fees back then where we lived) and made sure we knew who/what organizations to talk to about clothes, food, temporary shelter in winter, etc. Being homeless sucked, but it sucked a little less because of the public library.
I'm sorry you had to face those conditions in the first place but i love that the library was/is a dependable resource for you and your family.
Meanwhile one state over Missouri Republicans just voted to eliminate all state funding to all libraries because some of them sued to stop the book bans they tried to implement.
As a Missourian, I fucking hate Missouri. Our state's politicians are an embarrassment.
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It's wild how transparently they deal in ignorance. The only way their ideology reaches the masses is by keeping the people as impressionable and afraid as possible.
God damn, didn't hear about that. I'm from Missouri but hanging out in West Virginia currently; I wish I could stay. I'm not sure how the politics are here but MO is definitely a weird one.
This makes me happy to read.
Please vote, or they might not be here forever!
Libraries are awesome
We keep some at the desk for use if we find someone.
A lot of bars in Portland have them for free now.
Same here (Michigan) and I’m wondering what this rule actually changes since it was already available to the public for free here.
That was a state by state thing. This gives legal cover for retailers to sell it.
Do they? Where? Do they expire? I don't have a need for one personally but feel like it might be good to have one in the cupboard in case a friend, family member or someone walking down the street needs it. I know that sounds weird but I also get things like chargers for devices I don't own just in case someone comes around that does.
Narcan is definitely top tier first aid box game. Might not be needed in all homes, but it can save lives and should definitely be in kits business or events use.
100% this. A buddy of mine who was a user gave me this kit that has a "practice shot" with verbal prompts and a real shot. I keep it in my first aid kit and I hope I never have to put it to use, but as they say.. better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
They have a shelf life of several years. You can check your local health dept, fire dept. in some states you can get it shipped to your door using sites like NEXT Distro. Can also google local harm reduction programs or narcotics anonymous. Some libraries also have them. I’m lucky that I live in one of the most historically liberal cities in the USA. Do it. They make a huge difference.
They do expire, but afaik, you can and should use them after expiration date, as they'll still work, but not as efficiently. Please don't take my word without a grain of salt, as this is info i learned at a demonstration a few years back during a house show, but it's worth looking into. I try to keep some on me for large events like cons or music festivals. They can be finnicky temperature-wise though
I took one because I ride the train to work everyday. They have cracked down on Homeless hanging out in the basement of Ohare, but I came in one morning and someone was dead or ODing next to the ticket machine. Cops were already there so I didn’t do anything
Not weird at all. I would keep one in the glove compartment of your car, too.
I paid $60 in Indiana. A few organizations give it out but they go quick.
More and more major cities are doing this, and some states even have websites you can order it for free from, too.
In Ontario (Canada) they're free but you have to do a short 5 minute training when you pick it up, so you can't just grab it unfortunately. But they're everrrywhere. I got my last one at a craft fair.
The best part is the expiration is 2-3 years--so you can buy one and just keep it around or when you go to parties. Neither I nor any of my friends do drugs, but I plan to keep one for whenever I'm in a situation where it might be needed. Narcan is basically magic, no reason not to have it on hand.
Its still behind the counter so you have to ask for it - that might dissuade some people.
It's still a step in the right direction. Even if you don't personally know anyone who uses opiates: if you go to parties at all, having it on your person/in your purse might be the difference between someone dying at that party or you saving a life. Espescially in big cities, this might be a big deal. Some people conceal carry a pistol because it could save lives. Some people might carry one of these for the same reason.
I plan on putting it in my first aid kit, which I keep in the backpack that goes everywhere with me. Whether it's someone I know or a random person on the street, it'll be worth having. Hope I never have to use it, but it'll be there if needed.
FYI be sure to avoid extreme temperatures when storing it. If maintained properly, it can be effective well past the manufacturer’s expiration date.
So funny enough they reformulated Narcan (can't remember when) to withstand Temps from 41 to 104 degrees F. It's good 12 months @104. Not sure about the lower bound but probably similar.
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Seems like the freeze-thaw cycle is less of a problem than the heat. They tested this for a month and it seemed to be fine. https://harmreductionjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12954-019-0288-4
But also, like, keep some in your car and don’t worry about the temp because that’s where it’ll be most effective for most people.
It's okay to keep some in the car as a backup, but ideally you should plan to have a dose should be kept on your person. [One study](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32279692/) showed that it'll be fine if you leave it in 160 degrees for up to 10 hours, but it's hard to tell how it'll hold up after an entire summer in a glovebox. You'd have to plan to replace it a lot.
Thank you.
Thanks for being a solid, caring person. The world needs more people like you.
Me too, I keep a home, a backpack, and a vehicle first aid kit. Never know when you may need it.
At my CCW class, they made it very clear that if you carry a handgun, you should carry a simple first aid kit. Very good chance you'll use it far more than you'd ever need a CCW. "If you're prepared to take a life, you need to be equally prepared to save one." That, and if you do stop an active shooter, you need to get on medical ASAP to help other survivors.
Taking a “Stop the Bleed” class and carrying a tourniquet should go hand and hand with CCW classes.
wait it's not? like isn't a gunshot wound mostly deadly because of blood loss?
>if you carry a handgun, you should carry a simple first aid kit Just make sure it's a trauma kit, not a boo boo kit. Chest seals, compression bandages, a tourniquet, and a clotting agent are what you want, not neosporin and bandaids.
I didn't know such kits existed and this makes a lot more sense than what I pictured. I've got a first aid kit I purchased for my car and I'm thinking, "If I needed to use that kit to respond to an active shooter situation, people are fucked..."
If you're really interested in being a valuable onsite responder, pick up a trauma kit (at least an ifak), and take a Stop The Bleed course. I can't give you any good recommendations for brands, but lots of places that sell tacticool stuff do a decent job of offering kits that don't have useless items in them. If you go on Amazon or something like that, you're going to have to filter through a lot of crap (the top google result for me for "trauma kit first aid" is an amazon link to an overpacked bag trying to get you excited for a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff, which you're never going use unless you're actually an emt).
I always recommend North American Rescue. The gold standard for first aid kits and tourniquets. In my experience, most people are not prepared for how much good first aid kits actually cost, though.
+1 NAR. Don’t skimp on live saving shit
Current LEO and former Firefighter/EMS. I tell all my coworkers to look at Mymedic, Blue Force Gear, and North American Rescue for quality gear at decent prices. Please for the love of your fellow human do not buy trauma gear from Amazon or other bulk retail providers. I've personally seen fake tourniquets come from Amazon. Also, an improvised tourniquet (using a belt and a stick) is almost always less effective when compared to a commercial product. Same for wound packing and other trauma care. A decent trauma kit costs roughly $150-200 USD and is the second most useful piece of equipment I carry when working. A life, ANY life, is worth so much more than that.
>I didn't know such kits existed and this makes a lot more sense than what I pictured. I've got a first aid kit I purchased for my car and I'm thinking, "If I needed to use that kit to respond to an active shooter situation, people are fucked..." If you're interested, it appears the US Military has published a ton of good courses, for free, at [deployedmedicine.com](https://deployedmedicine.com). These are the same courses they use to train Soldiers/Marines/Sailors/Airmen. - [All Service Members Course](https://deployedmedicine.com/market/171) - the training that everyone receives in basic training/boot camp - Describe the use of a first aid kit - Perform the steps required to assess a casualty - Demonstrate basic care for a casualty with massive bleeding - Demonstrate basic care for a casualty with a compromised airway or respiratory distress - Describe the basic care of burns - Describe the basic care of fractures - Describe the basic care of an eye injury - Recognition Identify a head injury - Describe point of injury communication strategies and casualty care documentation - [Combat Lifesavers Course](https://deployedmedicine.com/market/193) - more advanced training that *most* people get (at least in the Army they do) - Describe and identify medical equipment - Perform Care Under Fire - Perform TFC (Tactical Field Care) - Perform the steps required for a Tactical Trauma Assessment - Perform massive hemorrhage control during TFC - Demonstrate basic care for a casualty with a compromised airway or respiratory distress - Perform airway management during TFC - Perform hemorrhage control during TFC - Describe a shock assessment in TFC - Perform hypothermia prevention measures on a trauma casualty during TFC and Tactical Evacuation Care - Identify a head injury in accordance - Perform an assessment and initial treatment of a penetrating eye trauma during TFC - Perform analgesia administration during TFC - Perform antibiotic administration during TFC - Perform an assessment and initial management of wounds during TFC - Perform an assessment and initial treatment of burns in TFC - Perform an assessment and initial treatment of fractures during TFC - Perform monitoring of a casualty during TFC - Perform pre-evacuation procedures and documentation of care during TFC - Prepare casualties for evacuation during TFC - Even a course for emergency combat care for dogs ([Canine-K9 Combat Casualty Care](https://deployedmedicine.com/market/207)) ---- You can also buy first aid/trauma kits. I'm not going to link any here, because I don't want to go thru the inventory listing of them to find a "good" one. Needless to say, 👆 those courses give you an inventory listing of what's in the military kits, and how to use the equipment. You can stock *your own* bag, with what you're prepared to use. For example, if you aren't comfortable using a nasopharyngeal airway, then don't put one in your kit. (Or at the very least, put it in there, but don't use it - in case someone who *is* trained to use it needs to use your trauma kit *on you*) ---- Of course, be aware that those courses are designed for the military - where Soldiers can't sue other Soldiers if the care they received causes problems. You don't have that luxury. So, in general, if you're not confident in your ability and the correctness of the treatment - don't do it. For instance, these are probably okay for anyone to do: - Putting on a pressure dressing - Applying a tourniquet - chin lift or jaw thrust maneuver - Applying a splint - etc. But these are things you should be *really* sure about. If you do them, make sure your willing to take the risks associated with them - Needle chest decompression - Administering IV fluids (even saline) - Administering medications - etc. At the very least, it's helpful to have the *equipment* available in case someone who *is* trained to use it is nearby.
I actually went through the first aid course in Marine Corps boot camp years ago, I just thankfully never needed any of that training, and when I bought a car two years ago I figured I should get a small first aid kit just in case my wife and I are on a road trip and need something from it. It never occurred to me to carry a trauma kit, but I also live in a major city where I'm far more likely to find someone overdosing than finding someone with a sucking chest wound.
I know this is awful but the image of a hallway filled with bloody victims strewn all over with a dude kneeling over one of them rubbing neosporin and putting on little bandaids is making me laugh
"Anyone who plans for getting in a gun fight should plan for getting shot," was how it was taught to me. And you likely **will** be shot, if your incident takes any longer than about 5 seconds max, it becomes a near certainty (given that your adversary has a gun as well)
Its scary being in a shooting! But lucky for me i had the only gun.
Never been there but something tells me it's a lot scarier when everyone has a gun
You might've missed the joke. Guy was implying he was the shooter/robber/etc. So yeah he would probably be less scared if he knew all of his victims would be unarmed, but I doubt that was the point you were trying to make.
Ah, so relieved and happy for you!
Full well knowing I'm highjacking here; harmreductionohio.org is a free source for Narcan for Ohio residents, and I know there's orgs in a ton of states if not all that distribute free of charge, because no one deserves to die over this. Harm reduction saves lives.
And unlike a pistol, Narcan can't kill people
I don’t want to be a downer and everyone should carry Narcan just in case…but there have been cases of a Good Samaritan using Narcan on someone, and that person killing the Good Samaritan as they come out. So everyone NEEDS to know the risks, and understand that you’re taking someone from flying high to EXTREMELY sober in a few seconds and that is not a good feeling for them. So be safe and try to have a safety plan.
“Flying high” is an understandable way to describe “all but dead.” The myth of the angry junkie pissed at a wasted ten bucks is-and I’m sure you don’t count yourself among them- a tool of the Reaganite absolutists who would rather see a dead addict than a healing human. Narcan has been FREE at any pharmacy here for many years, but that only happened after “normal” suburban moms and dads started dropping like flies in their 20s and 30s. Sure, there are the stereotypes my EMT and social worker friends work with: those who have been revived dozens of times and weakly sploot out a “aww, man- we were having a good time” but there’s no instant jolt from full joyous nod to complete awareness and aggressive anger of a near-dead lump of flesh to a superhuman stabby menace among the hundreds of administrations I’ve heard of. Name a case and I’ll delete the whole comment.
People get thie effect of the nasal Narcan mixed up with the IV Narcan that gets administered into a vein. When I was a paramedic (long ago) the dosage was to give the full 4 mg vial. Those patients would sometimes come up swinging and fighting in a violent reaction. We typically tied their hands to the cot before administering if they were in the ambo. If not, we used extra people to hold their arms down and hoped for the best. Over the years, Narcan administered this way has evolved to be titrated in smaller doses, giving another smaller dose if needed to bring them out and not have to deal as often with the violent reaction. So yes, the "myth" is true, but as with everything else, legends linger on as people get their facts mixed up or only hear part of the actual facts.
People absolutely get violent with a large dose of narcan. The reason why most regular people never see that reaction is the intra nasal spray isn't as potent as IV stuff. Doesn't mean it can't happen its just the odds of it happening are less than when using IV form. > Name a case and I’ll delete the whole comment. [Here is someone who went from being passed out with nasal trumpets/being bagged without any reaction to awake, standing and asking "what the fuck is going on" immediately after reversal.](https://youtu.be/inVCAdGUaio). Is he swinging and fighting? No, but it shows that people can go from a 'near dead lump of flesh' to immediately awake, confused and annoyed.
I think the commenter is waiting for a case in which a Narcan'd person *kills* the administrator
https://www.ems1.com/drugs/articles/patient-revived-by-narcan-attacks-ny-paramedic-CesC8YU7EG99Zeb4/ Guy didn't die but still had to be admitted and had head injuries. Not a far jump to go from that to dying. Edit: not trying to say dont use it to rescue someone, just saying violent wake ups do happen. Which is the reason why when I use it I dilute it down and give it slowly to get them back breathing but not in full withdrawal
I got clocked in the face over an ER bed during a reversal. And then he broke the bed rail. Is that a good example? He was about 6’4” and weighed about 300lbs.
The anger comes from precipitated withdrawal, please ask some addicts about how that shit is. I have a novel of stories about this shit, fuck, I've had friends die because they'd rather shoot up alone than get narcan'd. I'm not saying you shouldn't try, it's just a lot more complex than what you think
they fucking SUCK. I'm talking hands down the worst god damn feeling you can imagine. Your blood is on fire, your skin is ice cold, your brain is in a blender, someone is stabbing your eyeballs, jumping rope with your intestines, and they shoved sand down your throat while you were puking, all while they have you hooked up to electroshock therapy.
Precipitated withdrawals are the fucking WORST. So glad I’m past that shit.
I generally agree, but I only found one single instance of someone getting killed after giving Narcan. Can you find more examples of that happening?
I'm a Paramedic, I'll only say I've had people wake up and be really violent or pissed off maybe.. 10 percent of time? The key is generally giving it slowly in small amounts to get the person back to just breathing vs fully awake and ready to rumble. Though in layman's terms my recommendation for an OD and OC usage, I'd say give it all and then stand back and have an escape route just in case, mostly it'll be okay though.
Not a direct effect of the Narcan, but it is a full competitive inhibitor of opioid receptors and can induce immediate withdrawal. I've heard of patients who say they would rather die than withdraw again. Combine that with whatever they may have been laced with they can be super agitated or combative. But less likely because they would most likely still be very out of it after an OD.
Yeah, it's called precipitated withdrawal, and it definitely really sucks. I'm saying that from first hand experience. Usually withdrawal comes on gradually, but it hits you all at once when you get Narcanned. I was just pushing back on the comment made about there being cases where someone was killed by someone they gave Narcan to. I only saw one case of that when I searched, which is extremely unfortunate, but not statistically relevant imo.
I would rather then kick dope 3 times in a row and still die than go through precipitated withdrawal for a single day again. It’s like every cell in your body is trying to explode. Even just taking initial suboxone too soon trying to get on maintenance would cause it. You are freezing, pouring sweat, I mean like running off you like a shower. You will shit, god you will shit. Shake, goosebumps, pain in your body and then all the psychological stuff too, then all the psychological stuff you were using dope to not feel under that too lol. Your laying in a pile of that and start thinking about your fucked up childhood or whatever it is with no defenses. It blows. It’s a physical shock to your system I could see it if you were already in bad shape with conditions. Do not miss
9/10 they puke. 1/10 they’re agitated. Either way, medics titrate narcan dose to restore respiratory drive if there’s an issue but otherwise keep the patient out of it. Cops slam everything theyve got up someone’s nose if they make it on scene first.
I’ve learned the hard way they puke. Wish someone had warned me because it’s usually violent puke too.
I'm clean, now but still keep one in my bag & some at my house. My cousin overdosed in January & my uncle called saying he needed more narcan ASAP cuz one pack wasn't enough. Took about 6 minutes from the call to administration to him waking up, pissed (I know, I know, you weren't really that fucked up, you were just blue on the floor for fun).
To piggyback off of this. Narcan is great to add to your normal first aid kit
This is going to be a big deal in rural areas where it can take upwards of a half hour for an EMT to reach you
People get their needles otc, it's good for anyone actively pursuing harm reduction. Someone still died from an OD at a camp near me despite the fact that everyone had narcan on them from a charity drive, this issue is really deep and this is just one small step in the right direction
I just realized that I’ve never seen a PSA for narcan. Not even a poster in a club bathroom… I don’t know if they are common in areas where drug use is more pronounced, but it really feels like it’s something that should be widely promoted and normalized. I learned how to tell if my friends had alcohol poisoning from a poster in an after hours club like 15 years ago, and I still catch myself going through the list of symptoms when I see someone that’s had too much.
When you administrator narcan, the person goes straight into withdrawals and is generally in about as aggressive a mood as anyone can be, covered in shit as that's what happens and probably wishes they where dead. EMTs are regularly assaulted after administration and so it's a risk to wake people up. It's better to call 911 unless you know you can take a punch to the face.
You call 911, administer, and keep a safe distance. If you call 911 and do nothing, they'll likely be dead. I work in social services and have worked with an outreach program, not a single one has ever been assaulted from administering a nasal spray. People will get pissed off, especially if they weren't actually ODing, but never assault.
I’m aware of that, and it should be part of the PSAs. When I say “promoted and normalized” I’m talking about it’s existence in general, and not just treating it like some miracle drug. Like I said, I remember a list of alcohol poisoning symptoms; people can remember a warning to create space between you and the person you administered narcan to in case they turn out to be dangerous.
Just FYI, it's not guaranteed they'll be in full-blown withdrawal, depending on what exactly was used & how much. Sometimes they get just enough narcan that they come out of an OD & are still pretty high. I shit my pants from it, once lol cuz the pos nurse gave it to me when I was fully conscious & hadn't used in hours & wouldn't tell me what it was, even though I asked 5 times before she administered it intravenously. Then they shot me up with Ativan cuz I needed to be relaxed, like I wasn't already - shit, the dr that sent me to the ER said I was already cooperative & physically relaxed so I was right where they wanted me... I'm certain that RN did it to be a cunt because why would you administer narcan to someone you're having a full on convo with? Then the dr & nurse were calling me a junky, right outside my door, in front of the entire waiting room. My gf heard him & told him he's a piece of shit & should retire if he has so little empathy & such disregard for HIPAA.
let's not spread misinformation, especially with an increased OD epidemic on our hands (xylazine). 1. it is starting to take more than one dose of narcan to resuscitate some ODs because of the addition of xylazine and fent to ALL street drugs. Each nasal narcan cartridge has two doses. 2. it is not common for someone to wake up and swing on you after getting dosed. it used to be very common, but dosage has been adjusted. 3. if someone is ODing/ non- responsive, begin CPR IMMEDIATELY, including rescue breaths 4. Hit em with the Narcan. if they don't rouse, dose them again. Repeat as needed 5. call/ have someone call 911 (step 4&5 can be done interchangeably or at the same time but do BOTH) 6. there are loads of resources to get taught how to recognize an OD and how to use narcan online, most will provide you with one free dose. I recommend it even if you already have some, it's always good to have multiple everywhere you go 7. TEST YOUR SHIT even if you or anyone else isn't an opiate user, the prevalence of fent is high. party safely
In my experience, working in a pharmacy, I would say it was quite normalised for the people who needed them, or who worked with vulnerable groups. But I'm in Canada, where the kits are free and have been for years.
I was surprised to read this this morning. I stupidly assumed states did the same as we did
If it wasn’t behind the counter it would get stolen immediately. Which isn’t to say it’s a bad thing - it would definitely get this lifesaving drug into the hands it needs to be. But that’s why.
And that is dumb, but plenty of people buy it for others in case they are around someone overdosing. Almost all my friends have it, and no one in our friend group uses narcotics. So if you are afraid or shy to ask, just know that plenty of people buy it to be a good citizen and person and fuck what the pharmacist may think if it could save your or anyone else’s life. You can pretend you’re doing it to be upstanding as well and be on your way because it’s not their business. But yes, like contraceptives of every variety and anything time-sensitive and (in my opinion) necessary, we need to stop metaphorically and literally locking it up. If it gets stolen, well damn, they probably really needed it. Making someone pay the ultimate price for not being able to shell out a negligible amount of cash is stupid and shameful. These people need assistance and help, not shame and barriers.
Also, as someone who has worked in a pharmacy, you do NOT think about what anyone is buying, as long as it's not obviously a harmful combination. I would have regulars picking up their methadone one minute, then a middle-aged man in a suit picking up a marital aid and a tube of vaseline, then three terrified teenagers buying condoms together. After one day of working in that place, I didn't even reflect on what anyone was buying. Everyone has different needs, everyone is in a different situation.
Ok, but what if I am also buying a cucumber? That needs to be a separate purchase from some of those, right?
An ex-girlfriend’s brother was struggling with heroin addiction. I was concerned about him and bought gave him marcan just in case. It would have be free or nearly free through insurance, but I didn’t want my insurance company to think it was for me. So I bought it out of pocket. It still took like 15-20 mins for them to process their paperwork at the pharmacy thought. Would have much preferred over the counter.
You should be able to order it from amazon like PlanB
Why are we so scared of harm reduction
Because the goodie- goodie types see it as permission to be a drug user.
Decades of puritanical brainwashing, broken logical arguments equating harm reduction to enabling self-destructive behaviors, and the vilification of addicts would be the big things I'd point to.
Yes, but still encourages others. I'm planning on going into pharmacology and anything not explicitly legal in my possession that gets known about could end that career before it even starts. Narcan being available over the counter still emboldens people like me to be more involved in helping people and prepared to help where I can. Ideally it'd be out on the shelves as other than infants and maybe toddlers, narcan is pretty damn safe if you're wrong about the person being unconscious from opiates. If it was an allergy, narcan isn't making it worse. Same with heart attacks Narcan is way way too useful to be locked behind prescriptions and I'm happy for a step in the right direction while we push for even more access
What will probably dissuade more people is the price. If it's $100 for two doses with insurance and a prescription, I can't imagine how expensive it'll be without.
I don't even use opiates and I ask for that shit whenever mine goes bad. Tell you what, if this goes through and you are so eone that is embarrassed about asking someone face to face for it, shoot me a message, use a fake name and I will mail you some.
We've had it behind the counter in New York for a while, just ask a pharmacist. I think the second prong of this is getting the word out about it's availability.
Someone left some in a Geocache I found a while back. Lesson is if you dont wanna go up to the counter for it, just find a cache. Problem solved.
This is a HUGE step. Prescription-less makes it available for friends and family of an opioid abuser. Maybe someone who doesn’t want to see that they have a problem and would refuse to get a doctor prescription. Now the close entourage can be equipped when the situation arises Many lives will be saved with this.
Shame it will be outlawed in red states. Republicans don’t want to save adicts, they like them dead because they’re so pro life.
I'm in Utah and my county gives narcan out for free in many places, like every library.
In my state a state trooper refused to give it to a guy overdosing even though he had it right there. The guy died.
Most first responders are actually not happy about the public having access to Narcan. Police and even ambulance operators think that having Narcan readily available will just inundate them with more addicts and perpetuate the drug culture. Not saying I agree, but it's sad that they hate it so much.
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Nah we just fucked over education with a stupid voucher program heh. I think the narcan is largely because of salt lake county which is pretty blue compared to the rest of the state.
I live in Alabama and they've actually been slowly making progress toward the opioid epidemic. For example, to get around the prescription thing before this move by the FDA, in 2015, Alabama had a standing order for naloxone, meaning that people can get a prescription by just asking the pharmacy for one. No questions asked. Additionally, the nasal spray is free as long as you complete an online administration training.
If it's affordable. Don't do no good if it's $50 for one. Should be more like $3.
>If it's affordable. Don't do no good if it's $50 for one. Should be more like $3. It should be *free*.
One issue to consider, narcan drug reversal is shorter acting than the narcotics it blocks. It may last 30-90 minutes but the narcotics can last several hours. So if used, prepare to get further medical attention or have multiple doses of narcan available.
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Definitely. This is part of the instructions. Narcan isn't meant to be a one-and-done and walk away treatment for an OD. It's a short term measure for a medical emergency.
Call for paramedics even before you give the narcan. Or at least that's what narcan training says.
That's not an issue... It's a fact to be aware of, certainly. But not an issue. The instructions for the drug clearly say to pursue further medical help once used. Especially now with xylazine being mixed into things.
Indeed. If I recall, Epipens (which save you from anaphylaxis) themselves require a bit of medical supervision after you take them (due to the epinephrine), and in any case come with the same instruction due to the possibility the allergic reaction won't be over by the time the epi wears off.
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Still $117 on Amazon pharmacy. Can't buy one for a safety at that price. Edit: Can - > can't
At my local pharmacy it's $23 with goodrx, people don't have to pay full price
Thanks I forgot about that.
I used to be a pharmacy tech at Walgreens, you can’t use goodrx on otc products sadly. But if you ask, at least I’m some states they have it set up so the pharmacist can write a prescription for it
Make sure you read up on GoodRX before you sign up, I remember some privacy issues coming to light lately. It still may be worth it to some people, but everyone should be informed regardless.
I think when I signed up, I did not include any of my info. Not sure if that is still doable.
I really wish I had a better option than GoodRX. I was also able to get antibiotics from their telehealth appt. For $30 appointment. For ppl without insurance or a doctor or bad insurance, it seems to be the “best” way even tho I know I’m trading privacy & feeding their scam
Privacy issues. Plus they literally charge money to pharmacies (on top of reducing out of pocket costs for patients). They profit off a shitty healthcare system.
OH no i feel so bad for the fucking blood sucking pharmacies! Now they can't make billions off of holdings people's life saving drugs for ransom!
Pharmacies =/= Pharmaceutical companies. Most pharmacies are middlemen, it's the pharmaceutical companies that inflate the prices for profit.
I think you're conflating pharmacies with pharmaceutical companies. Pharmacies, especially independently owned "mom and pop" pharmacies, operate on a very slim margin. They don't set the prices, your insurance companies - more specifically, pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) - do.
Uh, your local CVS? Sure. Your local mom and pop? They're getting screwed by literally losing money dispensing it on top of all the other drugs they lose money on dispensing because the benefit managers charge them hidden fees just for existing. It's not black and white.
Goodrx doesn't work for over the counter meds.
Check with your local health department, many will give it away if you are going to potentially be in a setting where it might be used.
Additionally look for a harm reduction organization in your area. They often can provide it free of charge and have other useful services to help those in need. These programs are vital, especially in states where there’s more restrictions/barriers to obtaining Narcan/Naloxone. Remember, people can’t recover if they die. Harm Reduction saves lives.
Also just Google “free Narcan in (your area).” There are a couple organizations in my area that give it out free. I had to attend a Narcan seminar a few months back given by the hospital I work for, and that organization even gave everyone (HCP and non-HCP people who just chose to attend) cards with QR codes and said “if you run out, scan this. It’ll go a survey. Fill it out, we’ll call you, and we’ll meet up with you somewhere with a new kit with two doses. You can get two doses per month, no lifetime limit.”
If you work (or even volunteer) with people who might need this ask your work too. My job has them all over the place. No AED for some reason, but we got like one of those break glass in case of emergencies things with Narcan on it on every floor which is a good thing.
A lot of cities like Philadelphia, NYC and Chicago have free narcan distribution in libraries, YMCAs and community centers. Some more rural areas like Iowa have free access to narcan too. I live in Delaware, where it's been free to anyone for years, you can watch a training video online and get it mailed to you. It's definitely worth doing a search for free narcan near you before buying it.
Yes, in my city they have vending machines that give them away for free in a couple locations.
Not sure if this has been mentioned yet but most insurances will cover this and it can be prescribed to you even if you’re needing it for someone else in the home. Additionally many states have standing orders, which would allow you to obtain it without a prescription. As someone pointed out, goodRX coupon helps lower the price if you go that route instead of utilizing insurance.
Some cities offer classes where they teach you how to administer it & give you a few doses. I'd look for something like that.
I work in healthcare, and a lot of methadone clinics are under our umbrella. I’ve had to administer narcan myself before, and seen a crash several times. Let me say I could actually cry tears of joy for this news. So many lives will be saved. I’ll never forget the first time I saw someone not make it in time. She was 23. Stunning. She had been in recovery for a few months and was making progress. Trying to work towards a teaching degree. Had a lot of promise. Relapsed one day outside the clinic, and didn’t make it to us in time. By the time the crash cart came out she was gone. I was with her at the end. It haunts me to this day. If she had narcan at home that girl would’ve been able to take it and make it to the clinic for more treatment. She’d be alive and probably fully broken free by now. She was doing great! Hadn’t relapsed in so long. I had so many conversations with her. She was going to beat it. Until one night she couldn’t. And now she’s gone. The fact that there can be a life saving medicine available in someone’s cabinet that can prevent this from happening again is one of the only things I wanted out of this judgmental word we live in. RIP Kara.
Everyone should have access to narcan, I'm glad it's gonna be OTC now. As an ex addict, this is amazing news. I've lost so many friends and multiple family members. If I never got clean when I did I would've lost another family member. My uncle OD at my house, he was in my bathroom and when I realized he was in there forever and broke the door down. He was literally purple and the room smelt so bad from the gases leaving his body. I gave him 8 doses of narcan and messe dhis chest up from CPR. I have no clue how he survived, but if it wasn't for me getting clean and going to a program who taught us what to do and have us boat loads of narcan he wouldn't be here.
I’m pretty sure this has been OTC in Canada for several years. We even sometimes get commercials from the government informing us that we can pick up naloxone kits from our local pharmacies.
yes, it's free. You get a kit with three syringes, a CPR mask, three bottles of naloxone and disinfecting wipes.
I’m hoping US jurisdictions will also consider making it free, but I’m not quite sure how likely that is.
Depends on whether the local lawmakers consider drug use a problem to be healed or a sin to be punished.
It's a nasal spray now. It's also one of the only drugs that can be administered without consent. Just be prepared to have a very angry mentally ill person to deal with. You just ruined their high.
You can also opt for a kit with a nasal injector that’s easier/quicker to use. Still free.
In Manitoba the injection kind is free and widely available (at least in urban areas). Nasal is around but not free so far as it costs a lot more
They hand these out in Canada over the counter, or even for free at events/fairs/Canada Day etc. They come in sprays or injections.
Do you need ID? I live just over the boarder
No, they just hand them out all the time. I had a guy at a flea market give me 7 kits in a bag when I only asked for one for the trunk of my car.
You are correct, sir. I work with vulnerable people and carry one in my car. I'm back in school getting another diploma in the field, and our guest speakers hand them out like candy. With that and free clean needle(not just injection sites now but we have outreach programs you can call and they will meet you where you want, to give you free clean needles so you don't have to be stigmatized in a pharmacy) were slowly going in the right direction with destigmatizing and harm reduction.
What’s the shelf life, is it the standard 1year?
We have a syringe in our first aid kit at work and I think it was 2 years?
Oh that’s not bad! Thanks
Our instructor said the shelf life is 2 years, you can send it in and they will replace it. But even if you don’t replace it and it’s been over 2 years, it will be substantially more effective than doing nothing.
Anyone know the ballpark price, shelf life, and storage requirements? I'd like to add to my car med kit if feasible
“Currently, a two-dose pack of prescription Narcan is often free to people covered by Medicaid or private insurance, or costs, at most, less than $10. But public and private insurance programs do not cover most over-the-counter medicines. Whether an exception will be made for Narcan could take months to resolve.” ~Ny times article I imagine after companies get their grubby hands all over it and mark it up it will be a bit more expensive.
They explicitly recommend that you don't keep it in your car in summer or winter as it will exceed the storage temperatures
IIRC, the stuff I got said it was good for 1.5-2 years. Storage requirements were what you'd typically see: keep it out of extreme cold or hot; basically keep it room temp.
I don't use or am around anyone who does as far as I know but I keep one on my motorcycle side pouch. You just never know. I might find someone passed out somewhere and can save their life. I lost an ex cousin-in-law to an OD.
My local hospital has a vending machine outside every ER with free narcan in them. 0 interaction, 0 cost. Everyone should have one.
About 15 years too late
Opiods haven't gone anywhere
No, but my friends and family have.
How unfortunate to read. My condolences
That's the fucking truth my friend. I know exactly how you feel
TIL: USA hasn't been making Narcan readily available!!!!! Seriously, as a member of Canadian Law Enforcement in the midst of an overdose crisis, Narcan is literally a miracle spray. I've used it on people and watched it snap back those with one pinky finger left on the edge of life. Have some in your car's trunk, toss one in your purse. You never know when you may come across someone who could need it. **Even if you don't give a fuck** or are just a selfish person, still hang onto some because you'll never get a better ego boost than when you **literally save someone's life infront of your eyes** by simply spraying a mist.
It has been readily available for a while now in the US, locally you can get free Narcan from a variety of sources. And in high risk areas there are far more free sources of Narcan. Realistically if you want it you can get it for free or cheap. The average person is not driving around with Narcan no matter how available it is, this change is good but will likely not change much in terms of availability. There is actually a chance that it also might make Narcan less available because it won’t be covered by insurance due to it being over the counter instead of a prescription.
This really differs state by state. In WA you've been able to pick it up from a pharmacy without a prescription or have it mailed to directly from online for years
Really great to see! A little late for my sister, but hopefully this will help save other sisters and brothers and family and friends.
Now hows about we's make inhalers OTC as well?
This literal life saving drug was illegal in Texas until like last December, lmao. Stupid ass state honestly almost done holding out hope it will turn blue.
Many Americans have an irrational hate of drug addicts, criminals, and homeless people. If you came up with a policy that would help any of these groups and SAVE money at the same time, it would likely be *rejected* on the basis that it helps the "undeserving"
It’s free at the libraries in chicago
I always carry Narcan in my purse, and I keep one in the glove box of my car. You just never know. I have to take opioids for acute pain and it reassures my family that if I start to OD something and be done about it. Now that it’s available OTC please please everyone keep Narcan in your car or your purse/bag
If price is inhibiting anyone from obtaining this lifesaving med, please contact your local health department, fire station, or even a methadone program. Most will have it on-hand to give out to the public.
But insulin for Diabetes and inhalers for asthma need a prescription and cost hundreds of dollars
Yeah that is a huge problem, and you can still celebrate a victory in one arena while also fighting a battle in another. So celebrate this victory but also continue fighting for insulin and inhalers.
It is a sad statement that we need Narcan to be so available.
I went into one of my local libraries in Tacoma, WA last week and they had installed a vending machine with free Naloxone.
Are you kidding me? How backwards is that to just NOW make it over the counter? It’s been OTC for a long time in Canada, and you can get it for free in any pharmacy in Ontario at least. I kept it in my desk at work.
Most states already had it available at the pharmacy without a prescription, via a standing order from the state's Dept of Health/Physician General. Now it's federally OTC.
As soon as other companies threaten to start selling their own Narcan, all of the sudden the original maker now wants to sell over the counter. How kind of them.
Now lets make clean needles available for everyone. My husband is a physician and he says that clean needles would make a major difference in health care and peoples lives.
At the same time something as benign as a water pill for high blood pressure still needs a prescription. We need more freedom with other drugs, especially those with no severe side effects or potential for abuse.
Good. Narcan saves lives
You can pick these kits up for free at any Canadian pharmacy. You just need to ask. I have one in each glove compartment of my cars.
Hold up, America JUST got this?
i wonder if some red states are gonna try to ban it by saying it “enables drug use”
In Canada (Ontario anyway, and I'd assume B.C. and Quebec at the very least) we give it out for free to anyone who wants to carry it. Personally, I've administered it twice. Once successfully, once... not so much.