Two eastern Iowa nonprofits will offer free naloxone —a drug that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose—starting June 1. It's the first time the overdose reversal drug will be available for free in Iowa.
The Iowa Harm Reduction Coalition and Quad Cities Harm Reduction will distribute naloxone each week in Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Iowa City.
The drug has been available at pharmacies, but the cost can prevent people from obtaining it. One dose costs about $150 with insurance.
"So the hope and the goal of offering it for free is that it will become more accessible to folks who are at risk of overdose and save more lives," says Sarah Ziegenhorn, executive director of the Iowa Harm Reduction Coalition.
She says the nonprofits will distribute an injectable version of the medication and will teach people to use it.
Ziegenhorn wants to make free naloxone available throughout Iowa this summer.
She says the best way to get more information about obtaining free naloxone is to text the Iowa Harm Reduction Coalition's hotline at 319-214-0540.
