According to Texas Health and Human Services, the administration of Narcan by EMS personnel has increased by 52% between 2019 and 2021.
Commonly known as Narcan, Naloxone is a life-saving medication used to treat a narcotic overdose. The United States has witnessed a growing opioid epidemic over the last decades. This resulted in overdose becoming the leading cause of accidental death nationwide.
The over-the-counter medication costs an average of $50 for two doses. While this may not seem a high price, most people with opioid addiction live below the federal poverty line. “It is unlikely that most folks will drop $40 to $50 on Narcan,” said Dr. Michael Barnett, a professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, in an interview with NBC. Consequently, EMS providers often bear the cost of the medication during emergencies.
As the opioid crisis continues to unfold, EMS agencies are feeling the impact on their budgets to stock Narcan doses. Given the imperative to be prepared for all emergency responses, in terms of personnel and supplies, the necessity to allocate more funding for the medicine has become evident.
Texas Narcan Distribution Program
An alternative to alleviating the financial burden of Narcan costs for EMS agencies is the Naloxone Texas initiative. This program provides organizations with free doses of the medication and training to respond to opioid overdoses. EMS providers can request bulk orders of Narcan by completing this form.
The project is sustained through federal funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
EMERGICON‘s network of EMS agencies includes many providers who are caring for their communities and combating the opioid crisis. If you’d like to learn more about what they are doing specifically, contact EMERGICON’s EMS & Client Hotline: 866-839-3671 | support@emergicon.com.
If you are struggling with substance abuse, call 988 (National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) for help. The service operates 24/7 nationwide and is confidential and free.