FDA Recommends Narcan For Over-The-Counter Sales Amid Fentanyl Epidemic

FDA advisory committees recommended Narcan be sold over the counter with a decision to come as soon as next month – directly affecting the rave community and avoidable fentanyl deaths.

Narcan, also known as Naloxone, is widely known and used for overdose from opioids, including prescription painkillers, as well as heroin and fentanyl. Fentanyl is mainly the biggest threat to ravers as sometimes it can get mixed into something amid the fentanyl epidemic.

Not that anyone wants to take fentanyl; it is that no one wants to. Also, no one wants to die from unexpected exposure – making this recommendation for over-the-counter access crucial for safety in rave environments.

The recommendation came as a unanimous vote by the committees, which advise the Food and Drug Administration – and a recommendation makes it highly likely that the F.D.A. will approve it. The over-the-counter version is being encouraged by health experts who believe readily available access could save lives, which matters most. It is believed that having Narcan available at a rave could stop someone from an unfortunate life-threatening experience.

Currently, Narcan is mainly only accessible to social outreach workers, health care providers, emergency responders, and people with consistent prescriptions which are hard to come by. Insomniac recently also highlighted the importance of having overdose services at raves with its partnership with End Overdose in October. End Overdose hands out free Naloxone and fentanyl test strips to ensure safety and for just-in-case moments. Harm reduction is largely appreciated among the rave community and many would urge these kinds of efforts.

At various raves, there have been instances of people dying due to fentanyl overdoses because of the lack of access to Narcan which can be avoided. People dying at raves or anywhere from opioids is the worst kind of situation, but it’s a reality that should be prepared for if possible.