Michigan pharmacies filled twice as many order for this drug

Originally published by The Detroit Free Press

More people are seeking the drug that reverses opioid overdoses.

Michigan pharmacies filled twice as many orders for naloxone during the second quarter of the year than it did the first, according to a report from Lt. Gov. Brian Calley.

Pharmacies filled 3,174 orders for naloxone (brand names: Narcan and Evzio) between April and July 1, the report said. Between Jan. and April 1, they filled 1,462 orders.

“The addiction epidemic continues to impact every community in our state and I’m glad that Michiganders are taking preventative action in having naloxone on-hand to prepare for potential overdoses,” Calley said in a prepared statement.

“While we have made progress, we have a long way to go and equipping people with naloxone is a great step. Together we can continue to fight this epidemic and ensure more second chances and fewer funerals,” he said.

In Michigan, 2,749 people died from drug overdoses between November 2016 and November 2017, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Research suggests that most of those overdoses were caused by opioids.

Since May 2017, Michigan pharmacies have filled 10,328 orders for naloxone.

Michigan law allows registered pharmacies to dispense naloxone without prescription to people at risk of an opioid overdose as well as to family members and friends of people at risk of overdose.

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