Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey and a naloxone manufacturer have reached an agreement worth $325 million to dedicate funds to support Massachusetts’ first responders in having access to important, life-saving drugs.
This move may help to make naloxone, a life-saving drug that counteracts overdoses of opioid, more available to firefighters and police throughout the state. Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, which creates naloxone, has agreed to pay the fee to offset the expense of the drug.
“The demand for Narcan to help save the lives of overdose victims has risen sharply, and with that, so has the price, making it tough for police and fire departments to access this critical drug,” Healey said. “This money will help us get Narcan into the hands of every first responder, giving them a tool they need to help save lives.”
“We heard through our listening sessions across the state--from parents, siblings and those who struggle with addiction themselves--about the life-saving ability of naloxone,” said Marylou Sudders, secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and chair of the governor's opioid working group. "Today's announcement will help broaden access to this intervention, which was an important recommendation of the working group and will expand this life-saving measure.”