- “Southwest Airlines To Provide Medical Kits Containing Narcan On Flights.” For The Dallas Morning News, Alexandra Skores reports on Southwest’s move to include life-saving “Narcan nasal spray to its medical kits in the carrier’s fleet.” Southwest joins American, Alaska, Delta, and United Airlines, all of which now stock their planes with Narcan.
Federal legislation that would require all airlines to carry Narcan on planes was introduced last year (and is still in committee) by U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen—a bill that was inspired by her mother’s struggle with addiction to painkillers following a back injury. Pettersen explained the personal origin of her bill, and its importance, to Denver’s local ABC affiliate:
“Overdose-reversal drugs [should be] available in as many places as possible… includ[ing] commercial aircraft. My mom wouldn’t be alive today without [Narcan]… increasing access to this medication can help us combat the opioid crisis, which has already claimed more American lives than all world wars combined…”
- “Honolulu Becomes First American City To Require Bars, Nightclubs And Restaurants Carry [Narcan].” For The Hill, Nick Robertson reports on the Honolulu City Council’s decision to ensure that more public spaces have this life-saving tool to combat the opioid crisis. City Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam told the Honolulu Star-Advisor that Narcan “should be available and accessible in as many places as possible, in the same way we have fire extinguishers and defibrillators in case of emergencies…”
- “If You Live In Santa Clara County, The County Will Mail You Narcan For Free.” For NBC’s Bay Area affiliate, Katie Marzullo reports that “County officials say they believe this new home delivery option gives them another tool to fight the deadly opioid crisis… The county says it will ship the drug within 24 hours.” Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez told The Mercury News’ Grace Hase that “she’s learned that not everyone feels comfortable picking up Narcan at their local library out of fear that others might think they’re a drug user themselves … ‘Even if they’re not drug users, they’re around people who are and so a lot of the folks who are requesting this aren’t using drugs themselves but have friends or family who do. Being somebody who is responsible, just wanting to be ready just like you would take a CPR class, that’s how we’re wanting to make it feel.’”