The over‐regulation of pharmacist services: Why over‐the‐counter naloxone should spark conversation about a “standard of care” regulatory approach

Abstract

AbstractIn March 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first naloxone nasal spray to be available over‐the‐counter without a prescription. Naloxone nasal spray will become much more accessible nationwide, and a lot of current state regulations will become obsolete. Current state naloxone regulations for pharmacists are poorly calibrated to the medication's safety profile and may impede access to this critical opioid overdose reversal agent. State policymakers should reflect on the unnecessary regulations that were imposed on pharmacist prescribing of naloxone and consider moving to a “standard of care approach” to better enable pharmacists to engage in future public health initiatives.