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At $40 or $50, over-the-counter Narcan may be unaffordable for people who need it most

The first opioid overdose reversal medication to be sold over the counter is starting to show up on pharmacy shelves.

Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration approved selling Narcan without a prescription as the medication is seen as a life-saving one. Several pharmacies have started selling it, but some advocates worry about the price. It generally costs between $40 and $50 for a two-dose set. California lawmakers, meanwhile, are close to approving a proposal to cap the price at $10.

The Show spoke about Narcan’s potential, and its price with James Hodge, a professor of law at Arizona State University's Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, and director of the Center for Public Health Law and Policy there. The conversation began with Hodge's reaction to the fact that Narcan is now over the counter and how its cost may play into how many people have access to it.

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Mark Brodie is a co-host of The Show, KJZZ’s locally produced news magazine. Since starting at KJZZ in 2002, Brodie has been a host, reporter and producer, including several years covering the Arizona Legislature, based at the Capitol.