Tulsa advocates and first responders voiced their approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's decision on Wednesday to sell naloxone without a prescription, over the counter.
Narcan is a nasal spray from Gaithersburg, Maryland-based Emergent BioSolutions. It can reverse overdoses of opioids and street drugs, such as heroin, fentanyl, and prescription versions like oxycodone.
“It’s the only thing we have to fight to save people," said local advocate Rebekah Purcell, who lost her son to an accidental fentanyl overdose back in 2021.
Purcell said she's become very knowledgeable about fentanyl since then and advocates for everyone to have Narcan.
She said she believes the State of Oklahoma should take action to make it free for all Oklahomans, but that this is a great start.
"When I was growing up, you could make mistakes. You could maybe drink or try drugs but these days kids are dying from their choices, people are, and they don't even realize it's in there," said Purcell.
According to the FDA, Narcan will become available over the counter by late summer. Other brands and injectable forms of naloxone could also be available over the counter soon.
The FDA also said there's no word yet on how much the over-the-counter product is expected to cost.
First responders in Tulsa told NewsChannel 8 Wednesday that they have seen a rise in overdose calls in recent years, adding that they believe an ongoing fentanyl crisis is only making matters worse, and that Narcan could help turn the tide.
“It just gives [Oklahomans] a tool they can use. It may save their loved one you know, and in the past they didn’t have that," said EMSA Clinical Specialist Shawn Burch.
Justin Lemery, Director of Emergency Medical Services for the Tulsa Fire Department, said the department has noticed an alarming uptick in overdose calls, with a 35% increase since 2020.
He said he agrees that Narcan could be beneficial.
“It’s going to save lives. I do believe it’s going to save lives and it’s much of what we’re trying to do as well from the fire department perspective," said Lemery.
Both EMSA and TFD said their crews have been heavily impacted by the overdose calls they've responded to, and that it's never a guarantee that a victim could survive, but Narcan could give victims a better chance if administered quickly.
First responders also said that even if an Oklahoman administers Narcan to someone they believe has overdosed, they still need to call for help.
Purcell said she wished she had been educated about the product before her son died.
"We do know about this and we do know it's a lifesaving tool," she said. "You know, I wish that I would have had it. I wish I would've known."
Purcell said in 2023, Oklahomans should have no excuse and should take the time to educate themselves on Narcan.