RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia is now allowing anyone in the state to buy naloxone, an opioid overdose treatment drug, without a prescription.
Health Commissioner Marissa Levine issued the order Monday allowing the change, while also declaring the state's growing opioid addiction problem a public health emergency.
Some pharmacies in Virginia already provide naloxone without a prescription, but Levine says she wants to make sure the opioid overdose antidote is available throughout the state.
Several other states have recently enacted similar laws and policies.
The number of opioid-related fatal overdoses has been climbing steadily since 2012. On average, three Virginians die of drug overdoses every day.
