Is Narcan Really Free? The Hidden Costs of Overdose Treatment

Where I am they pass narcan out for free, like candy. Someone is paying for it, probably from our tax dollars. And emergency responders don't carry the epipen but have and are trained to use narcan. So yes this situation is extremely fucked. Even worse they don't ever make charges out of these ODs, like you show up there is usually heroin and paraphernalia around but they take them to the hospital then they're released to go OD again (which they've done in the hospital parking lot) but they're never charged or taken to jail. People are leaving the first responders field because they didn't train to save druggies which is the majority of what they do now in some areas. And i use to be a druggie (15 years ago) so this isn't coming from a place of ignorance.

Drug addicts and homeless people cannot be compared, most homeless people don’t choose that lifestyle, most actually do turn their life’s around with small amounts of assistance, addicts do not have the same success rate. To compare the two is silly. My city gives it out free to addicts and it is annoying because often insurance doesn’t cover epi’s as I work in the medical field and it’s gross that our society cares more about people choosing to OD then people people dying from a allergic reaction. This is not saying to not save a person from OD but actually help them not send them on the way out with some free shit that will only allow them to do the same thing again.

So I just talked to my local pharmacy they just started to sell this in Alabama 6 months ago it’s still trial and error it’s $120 without insurance it is not free and you have to file that you got it and why. He said his main patients are people with chronic illnesses who have to take to much medicine for pain.

@mommynmotion but look at the numbers of overdoses since narcan became available, huge increase. Let's encourage drug use to save ppl from stds? Drug use which puts ppl in poverty, huge influx of children in foster care. And like you said the chances are they'll still use if put in rehab- well there are equal chances they'll still share a needle if it's in front of them

@bethann87, it’s not but it’s in order to reduce stds you have to understand that behind everything is a cause an organization that is trying to improve something they create safe places and clean needles to reduce one tragedy which is stds. They can offer rehab but chances are they will still use so they find alternatives to try and make a horrible situation stay contained

@bethann87, I know this but it’s not about narcan as a whole at all it’s that someone thought it was smart to say children with allergies are being treated less important than a user. If this was the case why not give out free insulin... oh wait it’s because this world has a cycle that needs to keep spinning and that is money!

@mommynmotion and also... Yes addicts need free help like the homeless have shelters but enabling them to "use safer" again is not helping theres zero accountability

@mommynmotion the problem with the narcan going out for free is it's NOT HELPING addicts it's enabling their addiction. Wouldn't you eat all the sweets if you would never get fat? Why worry about using which you risk OD if they were just going to come give me the narcan? And ppl who are allergic and need epipens don't go getting themselves stung by bees or eating peanuts on purpose. They purposely put the needle to their arm

Y’all commenting on here has nothing to do with the point of the post!!!! I’m simply stating that no narcan is not free yes it may be free from an organization who received a donation but just as schools keep an emergency epipen for FREE it’s stupid to say addicts are getting hand outs

Drug addicts and homeless people cannot be compared, most homeless people don’t choose that lifestyle, most actually do turn their life’s around with small amounts of assistance, addicts do not have the same success rate. To compare the two is silly. My city gives it out free to addicts and it is annoying because often insurance doesn’t cover epi’s as I work in the medical field and it’s gross that our society cares more about people choosing to OD then people people dying from a allergic reaction. This is not saying to not save a person from OD but actually help them not send them on the way out with some free shit that will only allow them to do the same thing again.

@ninoshca.melendez, your ignorant if you think narcan is dumb what about the cop who accidentally touched fentanyl and almost died he didn’t have to pay for the narcan he received guess they should have just let him die or waited for a payment first lol

@ninoshca.melendez, then he the fuck out of here.

@pumpernickel, I’m referring to how the image is portraying them. That they don’t deserve to be helped for free. That is why I used homeless as an example People say al the time I’m not helping a charity for homeless they should work etc etc well the same with people who are sick with addiction to compare it to a damn epipen is retarded

@mommynmotion, not even remotely the same. The definition of junkie is a drug addict, it’s not an opinion

@pumpernickel, they make them out as trash even though they are going through a struggle right now just homeless receive help so should “junkie” at centers who just so happen to get a donation of narcan I lived in a homeless shelter so no I do not think the homeless are actually worlthless and don’t deserve to be helped

@pumpernickel, I’m using that as an example to the way the picture called addicts junkies

It’s just like kids having sex can’t make them stop so they world has adapted and is funding programs to talk about sex and give out free birth control and condoms that is because an agency is helping these places. Im simply stating that to say society cares more for people who do drugs than people with allergies is stupid is all I’m saying and chances are if my kid is allergic to something he is on insurance who usually pays for epi pens?

“Worthless homeless who won’t get off their asses and work”. Appalling

The company has donated to organizations big deal people don’t care that they have organizations to help people struggling with addiction but they care that they receive a life saving medicine for free?! Okay your local shelter recieve food clothes and hygiene items as donations to help the worthless homeless who won’t get off their asses and work but people don’t care about that same thing as that organization receiving help pharmacies will donate to causes who reach out and ask now as far as a junkie going up to the counter and asking for one it’ll cost them some money

Narcan is free here. So are needles and safe injection sites.

@mommynmotion but they hand out narcan for these addicts to take home with them even, for free. They don't do that with epipens

@ninoshca.melendez, same thing if someone has an allergic reaction though

Where I am they pass narcan out for free, like candy. Someone is paying for it, probably from our tax dollars. And emergency responders don't carry the epipen but have and are trained to use narcan. So yes this situation is extremely fucked. Even worse they don't ever make charges out of these ODs, like you show up there is usually heroin and paraphernalia around but they take them to the hospital then they're released to go OD again (which they've done in the hospital parking lot) but they're never charged or taken to jail. People are leaving the first responders field because they didn't train to save druggies which is the majority of what they do now in some areas. And i use to be a druggie (15 years ago) so this isn't coming from a place of ignorance.