WASHINGTON, D.C. – Just days after CVS Health announced that it will make the opioid overdose reversal medicine naloxone available without a prescription at all CVS Pharmacy locations in Ohio, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) has sent a letter to the company urging them to do the same in Maine.

“Naloxone is a critical tool in the fight against opioid deaths, and providing quicker, easier access to it will save more lives. CVS has a strong presence in Maine with 22 locations; as you consider expanding this model program I hope that you will give strong consideration to including Maine,” Senator King wrote in his letter. “Allowing Mainers to easily get this life-saving drug from their local CVS Pharmacy would be a huge step forward.”

On Monday, CVS Health announced that it would make naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal medicine, available without a prescription at all CVS Pharmacy locations across Ohio beginning in late March 2016.

In Maine, there are currently 22 CVS Pharmacies, including five in Portland where last August there were 14 overdoses in one 24 hour period. At the time, Portland Fire Chief Jerome LaMoria said that his emergency medical personnel had administered 20 percent more doses of naloxone than the previous year up to that point. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 10,000 lives have been saved by naloxone since the first opioid overdose prevention program began distributing it in 1996.

In addition to Ohio, there are more than a dozen states where naloxone is already available without a prescription at CVS Pharmacy locations, including Arkansas, California, Indiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin.

The complete letter is below and can be read HERE.

February 3, 2016

Tom Davis, RPh

Vice President of Pharmacy Professional Practices

CVS Health

One CVS Drive

Woonsocket, RI 02895

Dear Tom Davis,

I applaud CVS Health’s recent decision to increase access to naloxone by adding Ohio to the list of states where it is available without a physician’s prescription at CVS pharmacies. Naloxone is a critical tool in the fight against opioid deaths, and providing quicker, easier access to it will save more lives.

CVS has a strong presence in Maine with 22 locations; as you consider expanding this model program I hope that you will give strong consideration to including Maine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that over 10,000 overdoses have been reversed by naloxone since the first opioid overdose prevention program began distributing it in 1996. Heroin overdose deaths in Maine jumped from 34 in 2013 to 57 in 2014—a harrowing trend that began more than a decade ago and is yet to show any signs of slowing.

Allowing Mainers to easily get this life-saving drug from their local CVS Pharmacy would be a huge step forward.

Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.

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