Bill would make naloxone available OTC in West Virginia

Legislation currently being considered by the West Virginia Legislature would allow pharmacists to provide naloxone OTC. The measure is intended to increase access to naloxone in order to reduce the number of overdose deaths caused by heroin and prescription opioids. West Virginia has been ravaged by the opioid epidemic, and it has the highest drug overdose death rate in the nation, at nearly 34 deaths per 100,000 people. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist and pharmacies around the state have already pledged to sell the drug if the legislation is passed. The law does have restrictions.