Californians can now buy opioid reversal drugs from the state online

The authorities began selling its ain generic mentation of Narcan past twelvemonth for $24 per twin-pack to businesses and section governments,

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Californians tin present bargain opioid reversal drugs straight from the authorities nether a programme aimed astatine making the life-saving medicine little costly and much accessible, officials said Monday.

The authorities began selling its ain generic mentation of Narcan past twelvemonth for $24 per twin-pack to businesses and section governments, and volition present besides merchantability to idiosyncratic consumers online. A container containing 2 doses of naloxone nasal spray costs betwixt $45 and $70 from regular pharmacies and online marketplaces.

Opioid overdose deaths, which are caused by heroin, fentanyl and oxycodone, person accrued dramatically successful California and crossed the state successful caller years, reaching 7,847 successful the authorities successful 2023. But California officials accidental they person started to spot a diminution successful these deaths.

The determination is portion of a broader propulsion by California Gov. Gavin Newsom to effort to unit cause companies to little their prices by offering cheaper, competing versions of medicine nether the state's CalRx label.

"Life-saving medications shouldn't travel with a life-altering terms tag. CalRx is astir making indispensable drugs similar naloxone affordable and accessible for each - not the privileged few," Newsom said successful a statement.

Naloxone, which tin reverse overdoses of opioids, has been disposable successful the U.S. without a medicine since March of 2023, erstwhile the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Narcan, a nasal spray marque produced by the Maryland-based pharmaceutical institution Emergent BioSolutions.

California is besides moving connected a program to marque insulin much affordable for residents. The authorities has an statement with the nonprofit Civica to nutrient CalRx-branded insulin utilized to dainty diabetes.