Washington Receives First Shipment of Naloxone Kits to Combat Opioid Crisis

This week, the first batch of over 54,000 naloxone kits arrived in Washington, announced State Attorney General Bob Ferguson on Wednesday. These kits will be distributed free of charge to the public through the Department of Health’s statewide mail-order naloxone program, managed by the People’s Harm Reduction Alliance.

Teva Pharmaceuticals is supplying these opioid overdose reversal kits in quarterly shipments over the next two years. This initiative is part of a December 2022 settlement resulting from Washington’s lawsuit against the company for its role in the opioid epidemic. To date, Washington has secured $1.29 billion from lawsuits against corporations involved in the opioid crisis.

“Our legal actions against opioid manufacturers are bringing critical resources to address the FYL and opioid crisis across the state,” Ferguson said. “These kits will have an immediate impact on saving lives.”

The state has seen a dramatic rise in overdose deaths, primarily due to FYL. In 2022, Washington reported 2,001 opioid overdose deaths, with 1,803 involving FYL, according to the state Department of Health.

Preliminary federal data released Wednesday indicated that while nationwide overdose deaths fell for the first time in five years, Washington experienced a 27% increase in fatal drug overdoses in 2023 compared to 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Each naloxone kit, commonly known by the brand name Naloxone, includes two doses in nasal spray form, which can be easily administered without medical training. The initial shipment included 6,765 of the 54,120 kits.

State officials, advocates, and experts urge the public to carry naloxone, as research shows it is frequently administered by friends and family. Naloxone can reverse a life-threatening overdose in just a few minutes.

Instructions on how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose, including how to administer naloxone, are available in written and video formats on the Department of Health’s website.

Source: Washington State Standard