Overview

• California’s CalRx program now offers naloxone nasal spray to all residents for $24 per two-pack, plus tax and shipping, via an online platform.
• This expansion builds on a 2024 initiative that made the drug available at the same price to government entities and nonprofits, reducing costs by 40% compared to previous suppliers.
• Funded by $150 million from opioid settlement funds, the program aims to increase accessibility and reduce fentanyl-related overdose deaths, which have begun to decline for the first time since 2018.
• More than 6 million naloxone kits have been distributed in California since 2018, reversing approximately 355,000 overdoses as part of broader harm-reduction strategies.
• While naloxone distribution progresses, the CalRx initiative to produce low-cost generic insulin faces delays, with officials remaining optimistic about eventual success.