With the opioid crisis in the United States killing thousands every year, many experts tout the benefits of a life-saving drug, Narcan, which can prevent overdose deaths if administered quickly. But getting your hands on the drug is easier said than done.
Narcan, also sold as the generic naloxone, can reverse the effects of overdoses of heroin, fentanyl, prescription painkillers and other opioids. It is sold as a nasal spray and has been approved for over-the-counter sales at drugstores.
Over-the-counter access has made Narcan susceptible to supply chain issues, and its rollout has been problematic, experts said. NBC found that Narcan was often kept in haphazard locations. At a CVS near Pittsburgh, it was "spotted in a locked case on a shelf marked 'Covid tests,'" NBC said, while at a Publix in Tennessee, it was "nearly obscured" by "pamphlets advertising 'pet meds for less.'" And many pharmacies do not have Narcan in stock.
For addicts who do not live near a drugstore, finding Narcan can be even more difficult. None of the convenience stores or gas stations that NBC visited had it. And those who can find the drug might not be able to afford it. At most retail stores, a "two-dose box of nasal naloxone can run $47 to $100," The Kansas City Beacon said. Some insurances cover the drug but not all.
Availability is one reason some in the medical field have expressed skepticism that Narcan will dent the opioid crisis. Another is the stigma of buying it, especially for drug users. | 
