Pennsylvania Governor Wolf’s administration announced it handed out 6,774 kits of free naloxone as part of September opioid overdose prevention events. The kits were made available at 95 locations across the state. Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said more than 4,400 people died from a drug overdose in Pennsylvania in 2018. Issued by Levine in 2018 and most recently updated in July, a standing order prescription is available to any Pennsylvanian to get naloxone at a pharmacy for anyone who may need it. According to the PA Department of Health, more than 25,000 people have been revived with naloxone by police officers and EMS providers in the commonwealth since Nov. 2014. The FY 2019-20 state budget included a $1.5 million increase in funding for first responders, who have access to free naloxone and are permitted to administer it as part of their treatment of someone who has overdosed.
