The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), Iowa Board of Pharmacy and Iowa Pharmacy Association are sponsoring a statewide Narcan Access Day on June 29, 2018. The event is intended to expand availability of naloxone (Narcan) for anyone concerned about or who personally uses opioids. Narcan is a prescription medication that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose; it is not a cure for an opioid overdose, but it does buy time until emergency medical treatment is available.

Limited quantities of free Narcan kits will be available at over 350 participating pharmacies in Iowa. “This is a great opportunity to equip Iowans most at risk for encountering or experiencing an opioid overdose,” said Kevin Gabbert, IDPH Opioid Initiatives Director.

IDPH purchased approximately 2,000 two-pack Narcan kits using federal grant funding. The normal cost for an individual to purchase the same kit from a pharmacy would be around $150. To access the list of participating pharmacies, visit http://bit.ly/2MrSNq3. To learn more about naloxone, visit https://idph.iowa.gov/mat/overdose.