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There’s good news in the fight to lower opioid overdose rates in California. A new program is allowing California residents to buy overdose reversal meds online from the state.
The generic version of Narcan, naloxone, started selling for $24 per twin pack last year to local government agencies and businesses but the state has now widened the network to include individual consumers.
The convenience of ordering it online may also encourage those who want to have anonymity when they buy the medication. Two doses of naloxone nasal spray can cost up to $70 at online markets or brick and mortar pharmacies.
The service is a part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s drive to compel pharmaceutical companies to lower prices for potentially life saving meds in the wake of an ongoing opioid crisis across the US. In 2023 alone an estimated 7,847 Californians lost their lives to opioid overdose.
The new program is called CalRx and it makes essential medicines like naloxone more affordable and accessible for anyone who needs them.
Naloxone is a groundbreaking medication that can reverse opioid overdoses. It’s only been available in the United States without a prescription since 2023 when it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
But the state isn’t stopping there. California hopes to make insulin more affordable for its residents soon. They have an agreement with Civica, a nonprofit company that can produce insulin branded under CalRx for diabetes treatment.
This program is a good start to helping reduce overdose deaths related to opioids and to providing other medicines that communities desperately need but cannot afford. Hopefully, other states will follow the example set forth by Cal Rx to bring awareness and proven treatment to everyone in need.
