CVS: Naloxone out there at East Tennessee pharmacies

CVS pharmacies in Arkansas have begun allowing access to the opioid-overdose drug Naloxone without a prescription.

Many drug centers are starting to see people from all walks of life. “You can offer them opportunities, which is what we do and that’s all you can do”, Smedley said.

He said side effects of the drug can be seizures, stroke, even heart attack. some critics have claimed that wider access to Narcan could promote drug use by giving users a sense of security in case of an overdose.

“Over 44,000 individuals die from unintentional drug overdoses yearly in the United States and most of these deaths are from opioids, together with managed substance ache treatment and unlawful medicine reminiscent of heroin.” stated Tom Davis, vice chairman of pharmacy skilled practices at CVS/pharmacy. That’s more than car crashes and shootings, according to the state health department. “Our goal is to help save lives”.

The catch: state agencies know nothing about it. The director of the Board of Pharmacy said in Tennessee, a prescription is required to get Naloxone.

ARC Ohio, 1222 S. Patterson Blvd., is one of a number of small independent pharmacies that have joined larger chains, including Walgreens and CVS, in expanding nonprescription access to Narcan in some parts of the country to fight the epidemic.

While Tennesseans will soon be able to buy Narcan at a CVS Pharmacy, New Hampshire started dispensing it free today.