In a wide-ranging speech yesterday detailing his administration’s plan to tackle the opioid crisis in the U.S., President Trump touted Adapt Pharma‘s move to distribute free doses of its overdose-reversal nasal spray, Narcan, to schools and universities.
As part of an initiative launched in collaboration with The Clinton Foundation last year, Adapt previously offered 20,000 free cartons of Narcan to colleges across the country. But yesterday the company announced it would lift that cap, pledging to give Narcan to all high schools and colleges in the U.S.
“Today we applaud Adapt Pharma’s decision to provide free, free Narcan to all high schools, colleges and universities in America,” Trump said, according to The Hill. “That’s really an amazing and generous offer.”
“We are committed to expanding affordable access to Narcan nasal spray to get this emergency treatment for opioid overdose into all places where opioids may be present and into the hands of all who may witness an opioid overdose,” Adapt’s chairman & CEO Seamus Mulligan said in prepared remarks. “We believe, expanding our program to provide free Narcan nasal spray to all U.S. high schools and eligible colleges and universities will improve awareness of opioid risks and help in the timely response in the event of an opioid overdose.”
Trump also pledged to crack down on any party that’s illegally distributing addictive prescription medicines.
“Whether you are a dealer or doctor or trafficker or a manufacturer, if you break the law and illegally peddle these deadly poisons, we will find you, we will arrest you, and we will hold you accountable,” he said, according to NPR.
The president said that his administration would even explore seeking the death penalty for drug dealers – a line that was met with applause from the crowd in New Hampshire.
Another component of Trump’s plan to reel in the nation’s opioid crisis includes reducing the number of legal prescriptions written for opioids each year. His administration has reportedly set a goal to cut the number of opioid prescriptions by one-third in three years.
