Statewide Iowa – A company that makes a nasal spray that reverses opioid overdoses is pushing to expand access to the medication in Iowa.
Larry Lanier is a lobbyist for Emergent Biosolutions, which manufacturers the opioid reversal drug naloxone and sold under the brand name NARCAN.
Iowa law lets pharmacists dispense naloxone without a prescription, but the pharmacy keeps a record of who gets it, which could discourage people from picking up a kit. Other states let non-profits, businesses and other organizations register to distribute naloxone kits anonymously. Lanier is asking Governor Reynolds and Iowa lawmakers to adopt that policy.
Lanier made his comments during an online forum hosted by Governor Reynolds. In 2021, 258 Iowans died of an opioid overdose — a 21 percent increase from the year before.
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