Californians now have inexpensive entry to naloxone, a medicine that may reverse overdoses, via a state program aimed toward making pharmaceuticals extra inexpensive, in accordance with a press launch from Governor Gavin Newsom’s workplace.
By means of CalRX, California residents are capable of buy twin packs of over-the-counter naloxone spray for $24, which is sort of half of the market value, the governor’s workplace mentioned in a information launch Tuesday. This system makes California the primary state within the nation to supply an inexpensive direct-to-consumer drug to its residents on-line.
“Life-saving medications shouldn’t come with a life-altering price tag. CalRx is about making essential drugs like naloxone affordable and accessible for all — not the privileged few,” Newsom mentioned in an announcement. “California is using our market power as the 5th largest economy in the world to disrupt a billion-dollar industry to save lives … and we’re just getting started.”
Naloxone blocks the consequences of opioids and provides “crucial time” to permit folks to obtain medical consideration after a doable overdose, the workplace mentioned. By means of CalRX, which was established by Newsom in 2019, California develops and distributes generic medicine to promote at low prices, usually concentrating on medicine akin to insulin which have excessive costs regardless of the supply of generic variations, in accordance with the initative’s web site.
To buy naloxone via CalRX, California residents can go to www.calrxnaloxone.com to position an order. The naloxone should be ordered to an tackle inside California and can’t be resold, in accordance with the acquisition web page.
The CalRX naloxone was launched in Might 2024 and was beforehand provided to companies and authorities teams in packs of 24, the governor’s workplace mentioned. This system is a part of Newsom’s Grasp Plan for Tackling the Fentanyl and Opioid Disaster.
“By leveraging state purchasing power and strategic partnerships, CalRx is establishing a new standard for making essential medications more accessible at lower, more predictable prices,” the governor’s workplace mentioned within the press launch. “This initiative not only provides lifesaving naloxone at an affordable cost but also demonstrates how bold, state-led action can disrupt traditional pricing models and ensure that cost never stands in the way of care.”
The naloxone initiative saved the state an estimated $17 million between Might 2024 and March 2025, in accordance with the Naloxone State Financial savings Tracker.
Some organizations could also be eligible totally free naloxone via the Division of Well being Care Providers’ Naloxone Distribution Challenge.
