CVS Health officially introduces prescription-free naloxone in Arizona

PHOENIX — CVS Health welcomed Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich and State Rep. Heather Carter on Tuesday to officially introduce access to the opioid overdose-reversal medicine naloxone by making it available without a prescription at all CVS Pharmacy locations in Arizona. Pharmacists in Arizona will use prescriptive authority to dispense the life-saving medication to patients without the need for a physician visit to obtain an individual prescription.

"Naloxone is a safe and effective antidote to opioid overdoses and by expanding access to this medication in our Arizona pharmacies, we can help save lives," said Robert Marshall, regional manager for CVS Pharmacy in Arizona. "CVS Health is dedicated to addressing and preventing prescription drug abuse in the communities we serve and we believe the step we are announcing today will give more people a chance to get the help they need for recovery."

"The opioid epidemic is an urgent public health crisis facing Arizona and the entire country," said Brnovich. "We want to ensure that Arizona families who have loved ones struggling with addiction have access to Naloxone because it saves lives."

Drug Store News first reported CVS would dispense naloxone at its Arizona pharmacies on March 9.

"As a lawmaker, it's always rewarding to see the policy decisions we make put into practice," said Carter. "The main purpose behind the legislation I sponsored was to get this medication in the hands of a person who may have an opportunity to save a life.  I'm here today to recognize a critical step toward achieving this goal."

CVS Health has also joined with the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids to create the Medication Disposal for Safer Communities Program, which donates disposal units to local police departments, providing a safe and environmentally friendly way to dispose of unwanted medication. 

With the addition of Arizona, CVS Pharmacy now dispenses naloxone to patients without an individual prescription in these 41 states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.