Last week, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) announced an agreement with CVS/pharmacy that will help prevent opioid overdose deaths in New York State.

The agreement authorizes 479 CVS/pharmacy locations across the state to provide naloxone to their customers without a prescription. Pharmacists are currently receiving training and ordering naloxone for their stores, according to a statement from the DOH.

Naloxone (also known as Narcan®) is a medication which reverses opioid overdose, and is one of the priorities at the center of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s fight to end opioid abuse in New York State.

A staff person at the Penn Yan store said the drug is not yet available here, but it will be eventually.

Mike DeAngelis, senior director of corporate communications at CVS/pharmacy says “Naloxone is not typically kept in stock. Any of our pharmacies in New York can order it for a patient who requests it and have it available for them by the next business day. Our pharmacists will instruct them on how to administer the naloxone when they dispense it to them. The cost of Naloxone ranges between about $40-$50. Insurance coverage will depend on a patient’s health plan.”

“Naloxone is a proven life-saver that counteracts the depression of the central nervous system and respiratory system, allowing an overdose victim to breathe normally.” said State Health Commissioner, Dr. Howard Zucker. “This agreement with CVS/pharmacy will help to save lives and hopefully get people on the road to recovery.”

When administered either through injection or by nasal spray, naloxone temporarily blocks the effects of opioids allowing a stricken individual to regain consciousness and resume normal breathing. These potentially life-threatening opioids include medicines prescribed to address pain as well as illicit drugs such as heroin.

The medication, which has been used successfully by Yates County and Penn Yan law enforcement and emergency medical providers, is also available at no cost to anyone who completes a training offered by Yates County Public Health staff. The next training is set for 6:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Yates County Office Building.

That training includes recognizing the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose, and what steps to take to save the person.

CVS pharmacists will be able to provide this training in addition to dispensing the naloxone. All individuals who are given naloxone should still go to the hospital with EMS personnel because Naloxone is effective in blocking the effects of an opioid for 30 to 90 minutes. When the naloxone has worn off, someone may slip back into a life-threatening overdose, according to state health department officials.

NYS OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said, “Making this medication available over the counter will not only increase the number of New Yorkers trained in its use, but also increase the number of lives saved. It is my hope victims will use the second chance to seek treatment in order to live a healthy life in recovery.”

“Naloxone is a safe and effective antidote to opioid overdoses and by expanding access to this medication in our New York pharmacies by the use of a physician’s standing order for patients without a prescription, we can help save lives,” said Tom Davis, RPh, Vice President of Pharmacy Professional Practices at CVS/pharmacy. “We support expanding naloxone availability and we applaud the State of New York for its leadership in the fight against drug abuse and addiction.”

According to State Health Department officials, Naloxone poses no danger to individuals who come into contact with it, and has no potential for being abused. It works only if a person has opioids in his or her system; the medication has no effect if opioids are absent.

Access to naloxone is one of the priorities at the center of the state’s approach to addressing the opioid epidemic in New York State. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law last year legislation to combat opioid abuse. One element of that legislation was strengthening the State’s opioid overdose initiative. Through that initiative, which started in 2006, more than 85,000 community members and public safety personnel have been trained to recognize opioid overdoses and to respond by administering naloxone and by calling 911. More than 43,000 of the responders were trained in the last 12 months. Through their efforts, more than 1,500 lives have been saved since January 2014.

The Combat Heroin & Prescription Drug Abuse Campaign was launched to educate New Yorkers about the risks of heroin and prescription opioid use and to provide helpful resources.

Find information about preventing substance abuse; the warning signs of heroin and opioid abuse and misuse; accessing drug treatment and harm reduction services; and making one’s home and community safer at the Combat Heroin website.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the State’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). Treatment providers can also be located on the NYS OASAS Find Help page.

Visit www.combatheroin.ny.gov for more information on addressing heroin and prescription opioid abuse.