FDA approves Narcan for over-the-counter sales, offering hope in opioid crisis.

The FDA has approved the sale of Narcan, a nasal spray form of naloxone, without a prescription, making it the first opioid treatment drug to be sold over the counter. Narcan can reverse overdoses of opioids, including street drugs such as heroin and fentanyl and prescription versions including oxycodone. Advocates believe it's important to get naloxone to the people who are most likely to be around overdoses, including people who use drugs and their relatives. Making naloxone available more widely is seen as a key strategy to control the nationwide overdose crisis, which has been linked to more than 100,000 U.S. deaths a year.