Cardinal Health today began its donation of more than 80,000 doses of Narcan, a nasal spray designed to reverse opioid overdoses, to community organizations in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia.
The donation is part of the company’s Opioid Action Program – a pilot program launched last year to bring solutions to first responders, communities and schools across Appalachia.
Cardinal’s first round of donations will go to 27 organizations in the four pilot states, the company said, and will be followed by more donations to different organizations in the coming weeks.
“As part of the frontline response to the opioid crisis, first responders know the importance of Narcan in helping reverse overdoses and save lives,” Chris Wilhite, assistant chief of emergency services for Jessamine County, Kentucky, said in prepared remarks. “Today’s donation from Cardinal Health will help Jessamine County EMS crews save lives.”