The Wolf Administration is encouraging Pennsylvanians to review the expiration date of their prescription medications, including NARCAN, a brand of the lifesaving overdose-reversal drug naloxone. Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the extension of the shelf life of NARCAN Nasal Spray from 24 months to 36 months.
“We are committed to ensuring that naloxone is widely available to help those with the disease of addition,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine. “Naloxone has one role, and that is to save someone who is suffering from an overdose. It is essential that every Pennsylvanian consider obtaining naloxone to help save a life.”
Since 2014, Levine has signed standing orders related to naloxone for the public, first responders and most recently a standing order for community organizations to distribute naloxone through mail order. Additionally, the Wolf Administration has sponsored two public giveaway events as part of Stop Overdose in Pennsylvania: Get Help Now week, where nearly 10,000 kits of naloxone were distributed.
“Naloxone has been a key component of battling the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania,” said Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Secretary Jen Smith. “The Wolf Administration has worked hard to ensure that all Pennsylvanians have access to naloxone, are training to safely administer the drug and potentially save a life.”
Launched in November 2017, the Naloxone for First Responders Program provides NARCAN to priority first responder groups across the Commonwealth utilizing a network of Centralized Coordinating Entities. Since inception, CCEs have distributed more than 67,000 kits of NARCAN to first responder groups, resulting in more than 15,463 reported overdose reversals to date.
“The news that the FDA has approved NARCAN’s shelf life is most welcome, as it ensures that the naloxone that we have already distributed can be relied upon to combat overdoses for an additional year,” said Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency executive director Michael Pennington.
