Mom who lost son due to suspected fentanyl overdose optimistic about OTC Narcan

UNION COUNTY, N.C. — You’ll soon be able to pick up life-saving nasal spray from your neighborhood drug store.

Narcan can revive people who’ve overdosed on opioids, and the FDA just approved an over-the-counter version of it. Channel 9’s Dan Matics spoke with a Union County mother who lost her son to fentanyl and hopes this will prevent other families from going through the same pain.

Rachel Paulk has seen America’s fentanyl epidemic tear a part her family.

“It killed Alex in less than two minutes,” she said.

In January, she found her son dead in his room in what the sheriff calls a suspected fentanyl overdose. She now carries his ashes.

“It’s still not real to me,” Paulk said. “I’m having a hard time believing this has happened.”

On Wednesday, the FDA said it’s OK for stores like CVS and Walgreens to sell Narcan over the counter. The drug can stop an opioid overdose.

“Go buy it,” Paulk said. “Go buy it. Because you don’t know what our children are doing.”

Fentanyl is a drug 100 times stronger than morphine. Earlier this month, DEA agents gave Matics a tour of the lab where they study illegal drugs. They said fentanyl in an amount equal to just five grains of salt can kill someone.

It’s cheap for cartels to lace the drug into both hardcore and recreational drugs.

“We are seeing it in substances that you wouldn’t expect it to be found,” said Charles Odell, who runs Dilworth Drug Treatment Center.

He said now that it’s available over the counter, everyone should make Narcan part of their first aid kit.

“Everyone knows someone who is using these substances, whether they recognize it or not,” he said.

Paulk shared her story with Matics hoping people will buy what she calls a lifeline.

“If you have that on hand, you can save your child’s life,” she said.

After the FDA’s decision, Walgreens said it will offer over-the-counter Narcan later this year in store and online nationwide.

(WATCH BELOW: Online and social media drug sales fuel fentanyl overdoses)

Online and social media drug sales fuel fentanyl overdoses

©2023 Cox Media Group