Illinois pharmacists can now help people who overdose on heroin and other drugs. Pharmacists can complete a special training program online and then dispense the heroin antidote Naloxone.
Once they complete the Illinois State Opiod Antagonist Training Program, pharmacists can hand out the drug, without a prescription, to heroin users, EMT's, school nurses, and other first responders.
Terry Horstman, from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, says his agency and the departments of Public Health and Human Services, worked out standardized procedures for dispensing the drug. Their goal is to reduce the number of opiod-related deaths in Illinois.
Pharmacists can register for the opioid training program with the Illinois Pharmacists Association. Each pharmacist must be CPR certified to register.