Life-Saving Nasal Spray Used For Drug Overdoses Now Available In All PA Acme Stores
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The nasal spray Narcan, which reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, will now be available in all Acme pharmacies in Pennsylvania. While officials say this is a major announcement, it also comes with an important warning.
Opioid abuse is an issue plaguing Pennsylvania and beyond.
"There's a lot of stigma around drug use, but it's a medical condition, it's an illness," said Jennifer McAleer, an Acme pharmacist.
Tuesday -- Delaware county officials, at the Acme in Broomall, announced all Acme pharmacies around the state will carry the naloxone nasal spray Narcan.
"This drug, when administered to someone with an overdose, almost instantaneously brings back and reverses the side effects of the overdose," said David White, a Delaware County councilman.
Anyone can get the spray either through a doctor's prescription or just by using the Pennsylvania standing order, a prescription for the general public. It costs 155 out of pocket or can be purchased through insurance by the intended user.
"You would administer the product and then the product comes with two doses, because you administer the product and then you wait to see if the person responds, and then you may need the second dose," Mcaleer instructed.
Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan said since 2014- more than 240 lives have been saved by officers using naloxone, adding that while Tuesday's announcement is huge it's not meant to be a stand-alone treatment.
"If you utilize this drug you must, you must call an ambulance. You must seek immediate medical attention, or you could be jeopardizing the life of your loved one," Whelan warned.
"This is a good step towards preventing deaths from overdoses, but it's not a solution to the problem," said Dr. Richard DiMonte, Jr., a Media-based addiction specialist.
DiMonte said he fears addicts will abuse it as a safety net.
"They're going to be able to use it to combat overdosing, in which other addicts can carry it to save their friends and not worry about getting treatment," he said.
When asked if officials were concerned about enabling anyone, who may have a drug problem, by selling substances like Narcan at pharmacies such as Acme, they say it's not about enabling anyone, this is about saving lives.
Trang Do contributed to this report.
