Milwaukee, WI – Community Medical Services (CMS), a leading provider of evidence-based treatment for individuals struggling with opioid addiction, applauds the recent decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to allow for the over-the-counter sale of Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses.
Narcan, also known as naloxone, is a life-saving medication that has been shown to effectively reverse opioid overdoses when administered in a timely manner. The FDA’s decision to allow for the over-the-counter sale of Narcan is a major step forward in addressing the opioid crisis and increasing access to this vital medication.
“We applaud the FDA’s decision to allow for the over-the-counter sale of Narcan,” said John Koch, Director of Community Outreach at CMS. “This decision will help to ensure that Narcan is readily available to those who need it, including individuals who may be at risk of opioid overdose or those who are caring for someone who is at risk.”
Koch knows first-hand the benefits of having Narcan available. Koch, who was revived from overdoses 3 times using Narcan, credits access to the medication for saving his life. Koch emphasized that “I am living proof of the importance of access to Narcan. That is why we at CMS are committed to helping people and saving lives, and we will do everything we can.”
CMS has handed out over 30,000 Narcan kits over the last 3 years to people nationwide. In Wisconsin, CMS, through the support of Narcan Direct and other community organizations, distributed over 2,000 Narcan kits. CMS continues to play an active role in the Milwaukee community by ongoing participation in harm reduction activities, including with our weekly community collective in which we target the north and south side of Milwaukee to pass out harm reduction items and work alongside the local fire and police and first responders.
CMS is excited to announce that it plans to expand services, first expanding in Pewaukee and Madison, and then looking to expand in the Milwaukee area, with the goal of decreasing avoidable deaths while improving the lives of the people we serve, and improving the communities that we serve. These clinics will provide medication-assisted treatment and counseling services to those struggling with opioid addiction, furthering our commitment to harm reduction and helping individuals achieve lasting recovery.
CMS remains committed to providing comprehensive, evidence-based treatment services to support individuals in their journey towards recovery. We urge anyone who may be at risk of opioid overdose to obtain Narcan and to seek addiction treatment services as soon as possible.
