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Walgreens offers naloxone in New Jersey

DEERFIELD - Walgreens today announced it has made naloxone, an opioid antidote, available without a prescription in all of its New Jersey pharmacies in accordance with state pharmacy regulations.

Naloxone is now more accessible and easier to obtain in more than 190 Walgreens pharmacies throughout New Jersey. The medication can be used in the event of an overdose to reverse the effects of heroin or other opioid drugs, and is administered by injection or nasal spray.

"By making naloxone available without a prescription, we are making it easier for New Jersey families and caregivers to help their loved ones by having it on hand in case it's needed," Domenic DiPrimo, Walgreens regional health care director in New Jersey, said in a statement. "As a pharmacy we are here to help people, and we are committed to making naloxone more accessible in the communities we serve."

In February, Walgreens announced plans to make naloxone available without a prescription in 35 states and Washington D.C. in accordance with each state's pharmacy regulations. Since its announcement, naloxone has been made available without a prescription in more than 1,500 Walgreens pharmacies throughout the states of Alabama, Indiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.

When implementation of the program is complete, naloxone will be available without a prescription in more than 5,800 of Walgreens nearly 8,200 stores.

When naloxone is dispensed instructions are provided on how to administer the medication, which includes calling 911 as naloxone is not a substitute for medical care, and anyone who is administered the medication should seek immediate medical attention.

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