Naloxone, often sold under the brand name Narcan, is seen as a major factor in declining drug overdose deaths. The White House says more companies are agreeing to make the medication available at work sites, in classrooms and at other locations where drug fatalities occur., universities, labor groups and other organizations have joined a national effort to reduce drug overdose deaths.
“From airlines to classrooms, from offices to sports arenas, we are grateful to have hundreds of voluntary commitments from organizations and businesses across the country,” said Dr. Rahul Gupta, the Biden administration’s drug czar, in a statement Tuesday morning.According to the White House, Amazon will position naloxone medications at work sites that employ more than 500,000 workers.
In recent years, fatal overdoses spiraled upward, with roughly 110,000 drug deaths reported in 2023. Most of those deaths were caused by fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that’s often mixed with other toxic chemicals.