Anti-overdose drug available in Texas CVS stores

Texas residents in danger of a drug overdose will have easier access to a potentially life-saving drug.

CVS Health announced July 26 that its Texas stores will make the anti-narcotic drug naloxone available over the counter.

The medication is intended to stop or reverse narcotics overdoses, usually administered by doctors in healthcare settings or sometimes by law enforcement officials. But as the U.S. has faced an opioid use epidemic in recent years, addiction experts have pushed lawmakers to make the drug easier to get.

CVS Vice President of Pharmacy Professional Practices Tom Davis, RPh, said in a statement the drug’s new wider availability will help save lives.

“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,” he said.

The Dallas Daily News pointed out that critics worry easier access to the overdose antidote could encourage drug abusers to be even less careful of overdose or abuse, believing they’ll have a way out of trouble if something goes wrong.

But CVS said in a statement that offering naloxone is just one part of the company’s efforts to combat drug abuse and addiction. For example, the company’s website now includes an addiction resource center as part of the drug rollout.

A Florida law passed earlier this month also allows for naloxone to be sold over the counter there, and the chain hopes to sell the drug in 30 other states by the end of the month. According to the Sun-Sentinel, two doses are expected to cost between $75 and $90.

Walgreens announced plans in February to sell it in 35 states, according to the Dallas Daily News.