News|Articles|June 26, 2026

OTC Naloxone Expands Access, but Cost and Distribution Gaps Still Limit Overdose Prevention

Author(s)Ryu Kariyawasam-Chavez, Content Associate, Alison Newman, MPH

In an interview with Pharmacy Times, Alison Newman, MPH, program operations specialist with the Center for Community-Engaged Drug Education, Epidemiology & Research at the Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute at the University of Washington, discusses the significance of OTC naloxone availability and the barriers that remain despite the introduction of additional products.

Expanding OTC access to naloxone nasal spray represents an important step toward making the opioid overdose reversal medication more widely available. However, cost, geographic availability, public awareness, and persistent misconceptions may continue to prevent naloxone from reaching individuals who are most likely to experience or witness an overdose.