Price of Opioid Overdose Antidote Naloxone Soars

The price of naloxone is increasing at a time when the need for the opioid overdose antidote is growing, CNBC reports.

Public officials say the price of naloxone is limiting how much they can purchase, which is potentially costing lives of people who are overdosing on heroin, fentanyl and prescription painkillers.

“Why should we be priced out of a lifesaving medication at a time of public health emergency when we need it the most?” said Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen. “It’s unethical and inhumane to deny our patients and our cities lifesaving medications, and watch hundreds of thousands of citizens in our cities die.” She says her department has seen the cost of purchasing naloxone double in the last three years.