The U.S. government cleared the way last month for a cheap, easy-to-use nasal spray that reverses the effects of a drug overdose — and could save thousands of lives.
Ireland-based Adapt Pharma plans to have the spray, Narcan, available by January.
The simple lifeline is effective on all opioids, including heroin, morphine, and prescription pain killers like Vicodin, OxyContin, and Percocet.
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The number of people dying of opioid overdoses in America has quadrupled since 1999. It’s believed that a more user-friendly version of naloxone in the hands of first responders could save thousands of lives.
Narcan’s key ingredient, naloxone, has been used to treat opioid overdoses for more than 40 years, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had only approved injectable forms until this week.
The nasal spray treatment is packaged in a simple, plastic device that is needle-free and ready to use with a four milligram dose of the remedy.
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A user simply places the nozzle in the overdose patient’s nostril and presses the plunger once. The resulting spray can keep someone who has overdosed alive long enough to get to a hospital for further treatment.
Narcan will be available to police, fire fighters, schools, universities, and other local authorities in mass purchases for a discounted price of just $37.50 per device.
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