NASAL SPRAY DEVELOPED TO TREAT DRUG OVERDOSE MAY SOON BE AVAILABLE OVER-THE-COUNTER

December 7, 2022

In response to the drug overdose epidemic, pharmaceutical company Opiant Pharmaceuticals has developed a nasal spray under the brand Narcan that temporarily reverses the symptoms of an opioid overdose. The spray can safely be used on both children and adults and contains the drug naloxone, a hydrochloride that works to inhibit the effects of opioid use.

The opioid crisis has been worsening in the U.S. with soaring toxicity and death rates exacerbated by the pandemic. Between 2019 and 2020 there were more than 500,000 deaths related to fatal opioid overdoses representing a 30% increase. Opioids also accounted for 75% of all drug related deaths in 2020 including illicit, prescription and synthetic (e.g. Fentanyl).

Other parts of the world have been affected as well. In Canada, over 15,000 people died during the first two years of the pandemic, compared to the previous two years, a startling 91% increase. England is experiencing it's own crisis with over 2,000 deaths in 2021. Furthermore, studies revealed that 1 in 14 opioid related deaths occurs only two weeks after discharge from the hospital.

The signs associated with a drug overdose include difficulty breathing, gurgling sounds, chest pain, unconsciousness blue lips or fingers, and seizures.

The Narcan Nasal Spray was made available in the United States and Canada through Emergent BioSolutions. While the spray is currently only available with a prescription, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is pushing to facilitate over-the-counter availability based on its "preliminary opinion at this time that naloxone nasal spray up to 4 milligrams (mg), and naloxone autoinjector for intramuscular (IM) or subcutaneous (SC) use up to 2 mg, have the potential to be safe and effective for use as directed in nonprescription drug labeling without the supervision of a healthcare practitioner." A notice was posted on the FDA website announcing their intention to conduct an "assessment that certain types of naloxone hydrochloride (“naloxone”) drug products may be approvable as safe and effective for nonprescription use."