FDA issues guidance to increase access to opioid antidote naloxone

The Food and Drug Administration put out guidance Thursday aimed at boosting access to the lifesaving overdose drug naloxone.

The video featured is from a related report.

The change is meant to help harm-reduction programs more easily access the opioid antidote by making them exempt from certain FDA rules.

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The American Medical Association said the new guidance provides more clarity for those organizations to buy naloxone for community distribution.

Naloxone is also known by the common brand name Narcan.

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The AMA lauded the work of harm reduction programs and expressed gratitude for the FDA recognizing the importance of the work.