In Sacramento, California, residents now have the opportunity to purchase opioid reversal medications directly from the state, a strategic move designed to lower costs and bolster accessibility of these crucial drugs, state officials announced on Monday.
The state introduced its own generic Narcan version last year, initially offering it for $24 per twin-pack exclusively to businesses and local governments. This option has now expanded to accommodate individual consumers via online purchases. Typically, the cost for a box containing two naloxone nasal spray doses ranges from $45 to $70 when purchased from standard pharmacies and online retail platforms.
Opioid overdose fatalities, linked to substances like heroin, fentanyl, and oxycodone, have surged in recent years both in California and nationwide, reaching a staggering 7,847 deaths within the state in 2023. However, California officials have indicated a potential downward trend in these tragic occurrences.
This initiative is a key part of California Governor Gavin Newsom’s broader effort to compel drug companies to decrease their prices by introducing affordable, state-labeled competitor versions of critical medications under the CalRx brand.
“Essential medications save lives and shouldn’t be financially burdensome. CalRx focuses on making life-saving drugs like naloxone more affordable and accessible to all sections of society, not just a selective few,” Governor Newsom affirmed in a statement.
Since March 2023, Naloxone, known for its ability to counteract opioid overdoses, has been available in the U.S. without the need for a prescription, following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of Narcan, a nasal spray version by Emergent BioSolutions, a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Maryland.
Moreover, California is ramping up efforts to make insulin more accessible to its residents. The state has entered an agreement with the nonprofit organization Civica to manufacture insulin under the CalRx label, which will assist in the management of diabetes for many Californians.