Rite Aid brings prescription-free naloxone to 2 new states

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Patients in Michigan and South Carolina can now access naloxone without a prescription at Rite Aid pharmacies. The company on Thursday announced the expansion of availability of the overdose reversal drug, making it accessible at 360 pharmacies in the two states.

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug overdose is the nation's leading cause of accidental death, with opioids killing over 33,000 people in 2015, more than any other year on record,” Rite Aid EVP pharmacy Jocelyn Konrad said. “The opioid epidemic is a serious public health issue that requires immediate action, and that's why Rite Aid remains committed to increasing customer access to this potentially lifesaving medication and raising awareness in the fight against drug abuse in the communities we serve.”

The company has trained more than 11,000 pharmacists on naloxone dispensing and said it was actively working to further expand availability to more states. With the expansion, Rite Aid now offers naloxone dispensing without a prescription in 25 states: Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Vermont and West Virginia.