Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a drug commonly carried by first responders to address the potentially fatal symptoms of an opioid overdose. Until recently, it was only publicly available via a prescription. However, part of a 2015 state statute changes that.
Lali's Law, named for a Western Illinois University student who died of a heroin overdose, established a standard procedure for pharmacists to dispense Naloxone without individual prescriptions.
The Chicago Tribune reports pharmacists will generally ask Naloxone buyers for the same personal information as people picking up prescriptions, such as name, address, and date of birth. These names won't be reported to the police. However, pharmacists will provide instructions on the drug's proper use and information on addiction treatment.
Mariano’s, Meijer, and Walgreens are already dispensing Naloxone, while Jewel-Osco and CVS are formulating plans to roll out the drug.