In an effort to combat the rising opioid crisis, Hy-Vee announced it will offer Naloxone in its Missouri pharmacies without a prescription.
The goal: save lives.
Naloxone is a drug that reverses the effects of opioid overdoses.
For example, it can quickly restore the breathing of a person who has overdosed on heroin or prescription opioid pain medication.
Naloxone can be injected or administered by nasal spray. And without insurance, the drug costs about $170.
In June 2016, former Governor Jay Nixon signed a bill into law allowing people to obtain Naloxone without a prescription.
Walgreens and CVS made similar announcements last year, announcing they too were offering the drug without a prescription.
Opioid Epidemic
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 1,000 people visit an emergency department every day for not using prescription opioids as directed.
Statistics show opioid-related deaths have become a growing problem recently, especially in Missouri.
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