Bill Would Make Narcan An Over-The-Counter Medication

A drug that reverses an overdose on heroin or prescription painkillers would be available as an over-the-counter medication under legislation introduced in the Michigan House.

State Representative Anthony Forlini is sponsoring the bill and says the thinking is to allow people to keep the drug on hand if they have loved ones with a history of drug abuse.

Narcan can be administered via a nasal spray or an automatic injector, like an epinephrine injector.

The drug would be available without a prescription however a pharmacist would screen people who wanted to buy it.

He says first responders in Macomb County recently used the drug 10 times in one weekend to bring people out of a potential drug overdose.

The legislation is currently awaiting a hearing in a Michigan House committee.