At Victory Recovery Partners, a network of addiction-recovery centers on Long Island and New York City, we provide outpatient behavioral health services to patients who are suffering from substance use disorders and addictions. We are always looking to find new ways in which to help our patients along their recovery journeys. With that being said, in times of a crisis, it is helpful for our team to know what services or tools can be provided to our patients to help them with their recovery, and even potentially save lives. The FDA has approved the first over-the-counter Naloxone nasal spray – this is a huge development and something that we are thrilled about.
The Food and Drug Administration’s approval of Narcan nasal spray (4 milligram naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray) in an over-the-counter form is a huge deal. Now, if someone is suffering from an opioid overdose, a nasal spray can be administered to help reverse the effects of the overdose. Naloxone, according to the FDA, is a medication that is the standard treatment for an opioid overdose. The treatment can be accessed by consumers and sold directly to them. For example, drug stores, grocery stores, and even online retailers can offer Narcan nasal spray.
The statistics around opioid overdoses show some hope. According to the CDC, the number of opioid-involved deaths had increased from 1999 to 2023; however, 2023 was a crucial year, as it marked the first annual decline since 2018. However, deaths from opioids still
remain the cause of death for about 76% of drug overdoses.
At Victory Recovery Partners, we believe in harm reduction. We understand that our patients are on a recovery “journey”, and the path down the road to recovery is a long one. A relapse does not mean failure. How you bounce back is what matters.
The CDC is currently working on ways to combat the opioid epidemic in the US. They are monitoring trends to better understand and respond to the epidemic. This includes conducting large amounts of research, allowing them to analyze data and observe trends. Additionally,
the CDC is working on increasing public awareness about prescription opioid misuse and overdoses to help allow for safer choices regarding opioids.
Victory Recovery Partners, a network of addiction-recovery centers on Long Island, and NYC, provides outpatient addiction-recovery services to patients battling substance use and addiction. We continuously monitor any potential treatment methods that can help
our patients recover or even save their lives.
With Narcan being available as an over-the-counter nasal spray, we are hopeful that this will become a useful and life-saving tool for anyone going through an opioid overdose.
For more information on Victory, please visit our website.