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WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Pharmacy has begun providing naloxone, an opioid overdose-reversal medication, without a prescription at its drug stores in Idaho.
A CVS pharmacist talks to a patient about naloxone.
CVS said Friday that its pharmacists will expand access to naloxone under prescriptive authority allowed by the state. The drug chain operates two stores in Idaho, in Nampa and Twin Falls.
“Naloxone is a safe and effective antidote to opioid overdoses, and we can help save lives by increasing access to this medication in our Idaho pharmacies by the use of prescriptive authority for patients without a prescription,” Tom Davis, vice president of pharmacy professional practices at CVS Pharmacy, said in a statement. “We are dedicated to helping the communities we serve address and prevent drug abuse, and we are expanding access to naloxone to give more people a chance to get the help they need for recovery.”
Last fall, along with initiatives announced by President Barack Obama, CVS Health said that in 2016 it would enable its drug stores to dispense naloxone without a prescription in another 20 states, pursuant to a standing order from a physician or collaborative practice agreement. Besides in Idaho, CVS Pharmacy locations in 30 other states currently can dispense naloxone to patients without an individual prescription.
“CVS Health has been a leader in helping communities prevent prescription drug abuse, and we applaud their work to increase access to this life-saving drug for patients without a prescription at CVS Pharmacy locations in Idaho,” stated Marcia Lee Taylor, president and chief executive officer for the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. “Increasing access to naloxone is a critical public health priority that allows patients and their families to prevent opioid fatalities and recognize when people need help working towards recovery from the disease of addiction.”
