People nationwide may soon be able to buy the overdose-reversing drug naloxone over-the-counter, as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved non-prescription sales last month.

But in Pennsylvania, people have been able for years to buy the drug - branded as Narcan - at local pharmacies without a prescription thanks to a standing order by the state’s Department of Health.

“Anyone can save a life by administering naloxone to a person who is experiencing an opioid overdose,” Acting Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen said recently. “I encourage Pennsylvanians to obtain naloxone from a pharmacy, community give-away or other sources.

“You never know when you could save the life of a stranger, neighbor, friend or family member,” she said.

In Carbon County, 31 people died from overdoses last year, according to Robert Miller, county coroner.

Overdoses claimed 39 lives the previous year, he said.

The opioid epidemic is evident throughout the county, said Bob Merkel of the Lehighton Ambulance Association, which distributes Narcan to first responders in Carbon County.

“It is a county-wide problem,” he said in an email. “It is not specific to one location.”

Lehighton ambulance supplies the overdose reversal drug to each of the county’s police departments, Merkel said, as well as to some fire departments and EMS companies.

The association also provides the drug to area ski resorts, drug and alcohol centers and soon to schools and churches, he said.

The number of overdoses where Narcan was given before EMS personnel arrival dropped from 24 in 2021 to 10 in 2022, Merkel said, noting that these were numbers reported to the association.

The number of doses given before EMS arriving also dropped from 36 to 12 from 2021 to 2022, he said based on reporting.

Merkel believes the drop in the amount of Narcan administered through the program is due to the drug being more widely available to the public through the DOH’s standing order.

Lansford police, which carries Narcan, has found drug users carrying naloxone from time to time, said officer-in-charge, Sgt. Shawn Nunemacher.

The number of doses given is often higher than the number of overdoses reported, because more than one dose is administered, said Keith Heckman, director of operations at Lehighton ambulance.

Some social media posts report up to three doses of Narcan being administered to revive someone suffering an overdose, Heckman said. Some can be attributed to potency of the drug taken, but more often to people quickly administering more naloxone in an emergency situation, he said.

“A person who is not used to dealing with an overdose may keep giving more,” Heckman said, adding that it takes a little bit for the opioid reversal drug to work, even though those few seconds may feel like minutes or longer.

The state DOH encourages people to take free training that is available to prepare themselves to assist someone who has overdosed. Training and a certificate of completion will protect good Samaritans when administering the drug.

Lehighton Ambulance will be working with Panther Valley School District to provide free training in Stop the Bleed, CPR, first aid and Narcan on April 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the intermediate school, the district announced last month.

Those participating and staying for the full two hours will receive a free dose of Narcan from the ambulance association.

The state’s standing order allows people to buy or use their insurance to obtain naloxone at a pharmacy, and financial assistance is also available, according to the DOH. People can receive $75 in financial assistance to buy this overdose reversing drug.

Pennsylvania also partners with Prevention Point Pittsburgh and NEXT Distro to support a statewide mail-based naloxone program for state residents to request and receive the drug for free by mail.

More information on the state’s efforts in combating the opioid crisis can be found at pa.gov/opioids.