FDA Approves Second Over-The-Counter Naloxone Spray
On July 28th the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), approved the second over-the-counter (OTC) naloxone treatment for potential opioid overdose. The ReVive nasal spray was manufactured by Harm Reduction Therapeutics, a non-profit organization that provides treatments to harm reduction organizations and state governments. The treatment will be available without a prescription in 2024. Regarding the approval, the FDA Commissioner, Dr. Robert Califf said, “We know naloxone is a powerful tool to help quickly reverse the effects of opioids during an overdose. Ensuring naloxone is widely available, especially as an approved OTC product, makes a critical tool available to protect public health.”
Articles & Resources
FDA—FDA Approves Second Over-the-Counter Naloxone Nasal Spray Product
Senate and House Reintroduce IMPROVE Addiction Care Act
Senators Joe Manchin (WV), Markwayne Mullin (OK), Tom Carper (DE), and Marsha Blackburn (TN), and Representatives David Trone (MD), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), and Annie Kuster (NH), have reintroduced the Improving Medicaid Programs’ Response to Overdose Victims and Enhancing (IMPROVE) Addiction Care Act. The bipartisan, bicameral bill was reintroduced on July 25th and is intended to help connect patients with treatment and boost safeguards for Medicaid beneficiaries that have experienced a non-fatal opioid overdose. The bill would also seek to close information gaps that prescribers are currently experiencing. Congressman Trone said of the bill, “Fatal opioid overdoses are increasing at an alarming rate, specifically among Medicaid beneficiaries…Our bipartisan IMPROVE Addiction Care Act will help reverse this trend by giving prescribers information about patients’ previous nonfatal overdoses, as well as connecting survivors with adequate treatment.”
Articles & Resources
Senator Manchin—Manchin, Colleagues Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Prevent Fatal Overdoses, Support Opioid Victims
Senate Introduces Legislation to Expand Drug Testing Strips
On July 25th, Senators Cory Booker (NJ) and Peter Welch (VT) introduced the Expanding Nationwide Access to Test Strips Act. This bill would decriminalize and expand access to drug test strips nationwide. In recent years testing strips have become an increasingly common harm reduction tool in reducing deaths related to use unintended use of fentanyl and xylazine. Across the country, states have been moving to legalize test strips and remove the historic criminal penalty related to drug paraphernalia. Senator Booker said, “Drug test strips have been proven to be an effective and affordable way to prevent drug overdoses and, in some cases, help reduce drug usage overall. We should encourage their use to prevent accidental overdoses and deaths.”
Articles & Resources
Senator Booker—Booker, Welch Introduce Legislation to Expand Access to Test Strips, Prevent Drug Overdoses and Deaths
What We Read Last Week
Several articles were published last week pertaining to the opioid epidemic, covering a variety of different components of the topic. Links to relevant articles are provided below.
Axios—Free naloxone available at Lollapalooza this year
Axios—A potential new treatment for Florida’s deadliest drug
Bloomberg Law—Janssen, J&J Lose Washington State Opioid Case Discovery Battle
House Oversight Committee—Hearing Wrap Up: Congress Must Address the Deadly Flow of Illicit Drugs and Historically High Overdose Deaths
Politico—Medicaid cuts may put addiction treatment out of reach
This Week’s Calendar
In the week ahead, there are no relevant events or hearings noticed at this time. In the event that there are any changes to the schedule for this week, we will make additional information available.
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