This article provides an overview of the types of naloxone and distribution regulations of different states, and discusses efforts to increase availability and supply chain efficiency.
This article provides information on various state regulations and funding of projects overseeing the distribution of naloxone. It begins with a description of the different types of naloxone since its initial approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1971 for use as an injection, and the subsequent approval of Narcan in 2015, among other variants of the drug, aimed at mitigating opioid overdose effects. The article notes that naloxone in all its forms has been shown to be a safe and effective way to reverse opioid-related overdoses, and discusses the methods and receptors through which the drug works. It also discusses variation in state efforts to facilitate naloxone distribution, including bulk purchasing options for agencies, as well as recent challenges to accessing naloxone that have resulted in more sustained and cost-effective solutions to mitigate future shortages.