EBS - Emergent BioSolutions Continues Driving Progress Against the Opioid Epidemic & Recognizes National Naloxone Awareness Day | Benzinga
- Naloxone is a medication that rapidly reverses the effects of opioid overdose and is the standard of care for opioid overdose reversal in a community setting
- New topline survey findings reinforce the need for continued education on naloxone
GAITHERSBURG, Md., June 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In recognition of National Naloxone Awareness Day, Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS) is highlighting its ongoing efforts to combat the opioid epidemic in the U.S., including topline results from its new general population awareness survey on consumers' understanding of opioid-related accidental overdose and fentanyl. The results show that there is a high level of awareness that fentanyl is an opioid, and that naloxone can reverse opioid overdoses, including those caused by fentanyl.1 It also found that there are still gaps in certain age groups and populations in understanding the role of naloxone in reversing opioid overdoses related to fentanyl.1
While recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found a first annual decrease in opioid-related deaths since 2018 in the U.S., fentanyl poisonings are still on the rise and over 100,000 lives were still lost to preventable opioid overdose death in 2023.2
"Combating the opioid crisis takes a holistic approach across sectors, and Emergent is committed to raise awareness, increase access and availability of over-the-counter NARCAN® Nasal Spray making it possible for anyone to save a life," said Paul Williams, senior vice president, products head at Emergent. "National Naloxone Awareness Day commemorates Victoria Siegel's tragic death from accidental overdose on June 6, 2015, as well as all lives lost from overdose, while heightening awareness and expanding access to life-saving naloxone, the standard of care for opioid overdose reversal."
NARCAN® Nasal Spray 4 mg is the first-ever U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved, over-the-counter (OTC) naloxone product for the emergency treatment of opioid overdose. In addition to expanding the availability through OTC measures, Emergent works to increase awareness through a multi-pronged, extensive approach that includes educational tools, resources, and public education efforts like the Ready to Rescue campaign.
As a part of the National Naloxone Awareness Day efforts, Emergent met with the White House's Office of National Drug Control ...