Amazon to provide opioid overdose drug in workplace

Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) said it plans to stock all of its North American facilities with the opioid overdose reversal medication naloxone in response to the ongoing opioid crisis.

“This initiative makes Amazon (AMZN) one of the first major companies to answer national authorities, non-profit leaders, and public health officials’ calls on employers to stock the life-saving solution before an incident occurs,” Amazon said in a statement on its website.

“By confronting the public health emergency head-on, Amazon bolsters its emergency response procedures and sets an example for others to follow,” the company added.

Naloxone is marketed under the brand name Narcan by Emergent BioSolutions (NYSE:EBS). A generic version of the drug is also sold by Teva (NYSE:TEVA).

Amazon (AMZN) said it plans to stock the drug first in its most densely populated fulfillment centers. It expects to have the product in all of its U.S. operations sites by the early 2025.

The company said the initiative is in line with guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the White House, and National Safety Council.