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

The FDA has approved the sale of Narcan, a nasal spray version 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. 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. The decision will allow Narcan to be made available in places without pharmacies, but it remains to be seen how many stores will carry it and what the prices will be.