Naloxone is a common treatment option for the reversal of an opioidoverdose. The law regulating naloxone varies from state to state and thereforeso does the drug’s availability. The state of Rhode Island has legalized naloxonefor over-the-counter use while a number of states allow prescriptions to opioidabusers and family members. The medical community as a whole appears to bedivided on the issue of availability to laypersons. This is largely due to a lack of information on this relatively newsubject, as well as discrepancies within the existing naloxone research in regardto the use of naloxone among the general public. This literature reviewprovides an objective examination of the pros and cons of increasing theavailability of naloxone to the public, with an emphasis on the state of WestVirginia (WV). Due to WV’s high rates of opioid abuse and overdose, theimplications of increasing public accessibility to naloxone could be invaluablein the effort to reduce opioid related deaths. To this end, a WV law that hasrecently gone into effect allows emergency personnel and family members ofopioid addicts to carry naloxone. Ongoing research investigations willdetermine the impact of this law in regard to the overall wellbeing of theresidents of WV and the implications on future laws regulating naloxone use.
