So far this year, there have been 100 more drug overdose deaths in San Francisco than at this point last year. City Supervisor Matt Dorsey introduced legislation on Tuesday to address the ongoing drug crisis.
Dorsey’s proposed ordinance would require retail pharmacies throughout the city to carry at least two boxes of naloxone – an overdose reversal medication – at any given time.
This comes a few months after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Narcan – a naloxone nasal spray – to become available for over the counter sale in the coming months.
California pharmacists are currently permitted to sell naloxone products to any customer requesting them. But an FDA study released in March, found that about two- and a half million – of the nearly 17milliondoses of naloxone distributed in 2021 – were distributed by retail pharmacies.
Dorsey hopes that improving naloxone’s availability could curb rising rates of overdose fatalities.
On a broader scale, Dorsey hopes the ordinance could serve as a blueprint for other states and municipalities experiencing drug crises of their own.
