Mother of a drug overdose victim from Arkansas responds to the FDA approving over-the-counter Narcan

Lonoke, County, Arkansas – Many people in Arkansas are celebrating the recent ratification of a policy that will save lives as a new development in the fight against drugs.

The opioid overdose reversal medication Narcan will now be available over-the-counter at pharmacies and on store shelves thanks to a decision by the Food and Drug Administration. This makes it simpler for you to obtain it when you’re in need.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of people die from opioid drug overdoses, and in 2020, opioids accounted for approximately 75% of drug overdose deaths.

Narcan being sold in stores, in the opinion of Dr. Michael Mancino of the University of Arkansas Medical Science, is beneficial since it will increase the likelihood of saving lives by placing it in the hands of the public rather than behind a pharmacy counter.

“I just think it’s important to have as much Narcan out in the community, ” Mancino said.

Mother of an opiate overdose victim herself, Samantha Rudd, said she agreed with Mancino.

In March 2021, Rudd lost her daughter Brittani to addiction; she noted that she had overdosed previously. She had previously used narcan to help save her life, but she was not using it when she overdosed.

“So, it goes to show that it’s something that’s always tapping on your shoulder,” Rudd said.

The more Narcan, the better, according to Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley, but he said that frequently, it makes users believe they are “Superman” since they survived.

“The main thing about Narcan is that it saves lives,” the sheriff said.

The Peers Achieving Collaborative Treatment (PACT) program, administered by the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office, has been changing the lives of convicts struggling with opioid addiction since 2019.

In order to see a change in the lives that opioids have devastated, Rudd said she makes it her goal to share the tale of her daughter.

“If that’s Narcan, if that’s the PACT group, if that’s all the moms or dads going out there, speaking about what happened to them or their child, then it’s worth it to me,” Rudd said.

Mancino noted that the only problem might be the price.

“If you get it over the counter, you will have to pay cash out of your pocket for the medication, whereas if you get a prescription or get it from the pharmacist, you can use your insurance to cover the cost,” Mancino explained.

Despite the FDA giving its approval for Narcan to be sold, it won’t be accessible until the end of the summer.