Over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray, or Narcan, will hit drugstore shelves next week. The lifesaving spray reverses opioid overdoses but used to require a prescription. “Big-box outlets like Walgreens, CVS, Walmart and Rite Aid said they expected Narcan to be available online and on many store shelves early next week,” report Jan Hoffman and Noah Weiland of The New York Times. “Narcan is already a staple for emergency personnel and street outreach teams. Now scientists and health officials hope Narcan will eventually become commonplace in public libraries, subways, dorms, corner delis and street vending machines.”

Walgreens announced that it will sell a two-pack of Narcan for $44.99, and the spray qualifies as a medical expense for health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts, according to the Flex Spending Store. But at $45 for two doses, the treatment may be out of reach for some that need it the most.

Read the full article about Narcan affordability by Heather Close at The Rural Blog.