Arlington, Va. – The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) today lauded U.S. Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams, M.D., M.P.H., for issuing an advisory urging more Americans to carry naloxone, a lifesaving medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
“NACDS thanks Surgeon General Adams for a very clear and effective message: carrying naloxone can help save the life of a loved one,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE. “Pharmacy’s commitment to fostering naloxone access has always been about helping to save lives, along with initiatives focused on abuse-prevention.
“Fostering naloxone access is one of the ways that pharmacies serve as part of the solution to the opioid abuse epidemic, along with conducting patient education about opioids; advancing drug disposal solutions to help prevent opioids from falling into the wrong hands; helping to pioneer and expand electronic prescribing to reduce fraud and abuse; implementing pharmacy compliance and security programs; collaborating to stop illegal online drug-sellers; and recommending public policy changes based on pharmacists’ experience on the front lines of care.”
NACDS has urged steps to enhance the accessibility of naloxone, including the recommendations of a study conducted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and funded by NACDS.
