Expanding Naloxone Access Needs Normalizing First-Aid Use, Keeping Purchase Records Private

Opposition to making naloxone available OTC remains strident because of stigma surrounding drug overdoses, says Bobby Mukkamala, a head and neck surgeon and an AMA Board of Trustees member.

Normalizing naloxone as a first-aid tool and keeping information on sales of the opioid antagonist private are needed for expanding access and use in addition to OTC switch applications, according to emergency medicine and overdose prevention experts

Naloxone isn’t a controlled substance and has no potential for abuse yet opposition to making it available OTC remains strident...