SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., ― Nebraska residents now have access to a free, potentially lifesaving medication at Regional West’s Community Pharmacy that can help reverse opioid overdoses.

Community Pharmacy is a participating pharmacy with Stop Overdose Nebraska, a program that educates Nebraskans about opioid addiction resources and distributes NARCAN®, a fast-acting nasal spray that can help reverse the effects of an opioid overdose in minutes. Anyone who is a Nebraska resident can obtain NARCAN® for free, no prescription required, at Community Pharmacy.

“NARCAN® is needle-free, easy to use, and doesn’t require medical training, so family, friends, and caregivers can administer it,” said Michelle Smith, RPh, operations manager at Community Pharmacy. “Many accidental overdoses can occur in the home setting, so it’s important to be prepared in case of an emergency.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 136 people in the U.S. die every day from an opioid overdose. Though Nebraska’s numbers are lower, roughly 35% of the state’s 209 overdose-related deaths in 2020 were opioid-related. The CDC reports synthetic opioids, particularly those involving fentanyl, have contributed to a rise in opioid overdose deaths.

To learn more about obtaining NARCAN® at Regional West’s Community Pharmacy, call 308-630-1900. For more information about Stop Overdose Nebraska, visit https://stopodne.com.

Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, a 188-bed regional referral center and the only Level II Trauma Center in Nebraska west of Kearney. As the region’s only tertiary referral medical center, Regional West offers care that spans more than 32 medical specialties provided by over 28 physician clinics. With nearly 300 in-network providers and approximately 2,000 staff members, Regional West provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming.