FDA Approves Naloxone Auto-Injector for Use by General Public

Calling opioid drug overdose "a major public health concern," the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first handheld auto-injector of naloxone, a drug that reverses some effects of overdose, intended to be used by the general public. Naloxone is currently typically injected by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel or in the emergency department (ED). The auto-injector, marketed under the brand name Evzio, is used for intramuscular or subcutaneous injection and gives verbal commands to users describing how the medication should be delivered.