Narcan, used to counteract overdoses of heroin and opioid drugs such as prescription painkillers, is available at Bissell’s pharmacy in Ridgefield.
Narcan is the trade name of naloxone, an opiate antidote that can be used to revive people whose breathing has stopped due to overdoses of opioids like heroin, morphine, Codeine, oxycodone, methadone and Vicodin.
Bissell’s had an injection form of Narcan available Friday, March 4, and expected to have the nasal spray on sale within days.
“I do have it available,” said Edmund Karvosky, Bissell’s owner, who is now certified by the state to sell the drug. “Just putting it out there for people who might have some need for it.”
People can get the drug antidote without giving their names.
“They don’t have to have a prescription for it, they could just come in and ask for it. They could just come in anonymously,” Karvosky said.
A law allowing trained pharmacists to dispense the life-saving drug was signed by Governor Dannel Malloy in July, and in September the Department of Consumer Protection announced the start of training and certification courses for pharmacists.
“And I give them a little form as to where they can go to get treatment,” he said.
There are treatment centers for people with drug problems in many nearby communities, the closest in Danbury.
“These are called substance abuse treatment providers. These are places they could call and get some kind of help,” Karvosky said.
“They could go to Danbury Hospital, 1-800-516-3658. There’s a Connecticut Counseling Center in Danbury, 203-743-7574.”
Narcan sells retail $40 for one syringe. “They usually like you to get two,” Karvosky said.
People who find someone overdosed are advised to administer the antidote and immediately call 911.
The town’s emergency responders have the antidote available for emergency use.
“Yes both the Police Department and the Fire Department carry Narcan (Naloxone Hydrochloride). It is a opioid antagonist,” said First Selectman Rudy Marconi.
He also has it at his town hall office.
“Yes, I still have the nasal spray here, one kit.”
Marconi is on a state task force that is attempting to grapple with opioid drug abuse, a growing problem due to the increasing availability and misuse of prescription painkillers such as Oxycontin and Vicodin and Percocet.
“The issue of opioid abuse (Oxy, Vicodin, Percocet, etc.) continues to rise in number of overdose cases here in Connecticut, reaching about 337 deaths,” Marconi said. “When combined with 257 heroin overdose deaths, the total deaths reached an all time level of of almost 600 deaths! An amount greater than the number of fatalities due to motor vehicle accidents.”
Karvosky said he started carrying the opioid antidote at the suggestion of the state pharmaceutical association.
“The Connecticut Pharmaceutical Association wanted to have it in as many stores as they could get it in,” Karvosky said.
“I did it because I just feel, every year, there might be somebody who could have used it.”
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