Walgreens to sell Narcan over-the-counter in NJ

Walgreens plans to begin selling the heroin antidote naloxone — also know by the brand name Narcan — over the counter in New Jersey by the end of the year.

The company joins CVS in offering the antidote over the counter.

The company plans to roll out the program state-by-state throughout the year, bringing it to 35 states and Washington, D.C. Naxalone can be used to reverse the effects of heroin or another opioid during an overdose, saving the user's life, and is administered by injection or spray.

Walgreens first made naxalone available without a prescription at pharmacies in New York last year.

Walgreens said it will also install safe medication disposal kiosks in more than 500 drugstores in 39 states and Washington, D.C., primarily at locations open 24 hours.

"The program will make the disposal of medications — including opioids and other controlled substances — easier and more convenient while helping to reduce the misuse of medications and the rise in overdose deaths," it said.

States Included in Walgreens Naloxone Program: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin

States Included in Walgreens Safe Medication Disposal Kiosk Program: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin