Walgreens will sell a low-cost, over-the-counter version of the opioid overdose antidote naloxone, the company said May 15.
The Walgreens-brand nasal spray medication will retail for $34.99, a lower price than other branded versions of the drug (Narcan) sold by the retailer. The naloxone spray is currently available online and will hit store shelves nationwide by the end of the month.
While naloxone is highly effective at reversing overdoses, access to the medication is limited in many communities affected by the opioid crisis.
"Expanding access to naloxone is a critical step in empowering individuals, families, and communities to act and be part of the solution," Priya Mammen, MD, senior medical director in the Walgreens Office of Clinical Integrity, said in a news release.