Walgreens begins Naloxone program in Pennsylvania

DEERFIELD - As part of its comprehensive national plan to combat drug abuse, Walgreens has made naloxone, a potentially lifesaving opioid antidote, available without requiring a prescription from an individual's physician in all of its Pennsylvania pharmacies in accordance with state pharmacy regulations.

Naloxone is now more accessible in more than 120 Walgreens pharmacies throughout Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania families and caregivers to help their loved ones by having it on hand in case it's needed," said Kimberly Treece, Walgreens Regional Vice President in Pennsylvania. "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 - including Illinois - and Washington D.C. in accordance with each state's pharmacy regulations. In states where a prescription is required, Walgreens is available and eager to work with regulators to help update rules to allow for dispensing of naloxone without a prescription.

Since its original announcement about naloxone, Walgreens has made the medication available without a prescription at its pharmacies throughout the states of New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Indiana and Ohio, and has now expanded that access to Pennsylvania. 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.