State agreement to make anti-overdose drugs more affordable

narcan rebate

By Sam Wroblewski, reporting by Andrew Augustus WPRO News

In a continuing effort to battle the overdose epidemic in Rhode Island, officials announced a new agreement will make anti-overdose drugs more affordable to the state.

“The important thing is that we’re continuing to move forward,” said Attorney General Peter Kilmartin.

“We’re recognizing it’s a real problem and that we have to do more.”

Kilmartin said he will implement a $4 rebate on the drug Naloxone purchased by public entities.

Dr. Traci Green, Professor of Emergency Medicine at Brown University says the rebate will help make the drug more accessible.

“Making it as accessible to all people who are at risk and those around them is a really critical mechanism for reducing [overdose] death,” said Green.

Emergency responders have been using anti-overdose drugs since late 2013 to help combat the rising number of opioid related overdoes in the state.

More from 630WPRO.COM