Â鶹ŮÓÅ

Narcan, the nasal spray that reverses opioid overdoses, is hitting store shelves this month for the first time as an over-the-counter medication — a milestone in the fight against the nation’s overdose crisis. Manufacturer Emergent BioSolutions said last week that it has shipped hundreds of thousands of the two-spray kits, at a suggested retail price of $44.99. Major retailers such as CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens and Walmart say the kits will be available on shelves in coming days. Companies are also selling the sprays online. (Ovalle, 9/5)

Narcan, the opioid overdose-reversal drug, is expected to be available for over-the-counter purchase as early as this week — a move public health experts say is crucial to ending the opioid crisis. As the medication becomes more accessible, here’s what you need to know about who should carry Narcan and how to use it. (Mohammed, 9/5)

Amid the ongoing fentanyl crisis, the California legislature is considering an East Bay lawmaker's proposal to cap the cost of overdose-reversing drug naloxone to $10 or less. Assembly Bill 1060 by Asm. Liz Ortega would require MediCal and private insurers to cover the cost of over the counter naloxone, also known as Narcan. (9/5)

With the rise in fentanyl overdoses on San Francisco streets, the City is rolling out a public information program to help residents know when to call 911. It's part of an effort to offer mental health and addiction response without involving law enforcement. (Ramos, 9/5)

A flood of counterfeit prescription pills has added to record levels of drug overdose deaths in the US, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC said the number of deaths from fake pills, principally sold as opioid painkillers or the tranquilizer Xanax, more than doubled across the US between mid-2019 and the end of 2021, and tripled in western states such as Alaska, Utah and New Mexico. (McGreal, 9/6)

In recent years, the opioid epidemic has been worsened by the advent of street fentanyl, an illicit version of a powerful prescription painkiller. But experts now warn that the threat posed by fentanyl may ultimately pale in comparison to the emergence of an even more dangerous type of synthetic opioid that's now tainting the illegal drug supply: nitazenes. That's because a new investigation finds nitazenes are 1,000 times more potent than morphine, which makes them 10 times more power than fentanyl. (Mozes, 9/5)

A 16-fold increase in the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection during pregnancy in the United States is linked to the opioid epidemic in a recent cross-sectional study of more than 70 million hospital maternity admissions between 1998 and 2018.The investigators indicate that they conducted the study to add to previously scarce data on HCV infection during pregnancy and bring some clarity to conflicting reports on the role of HCV in pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. (Bender, 9/4)