Honolulu on Monday became the first American city to require that bars, nightclubs and restaurants carry the anti-overdose medication naloxone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNaloxone is a necessary tool these days in light of the national opioid epidemic,\u201d Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, a member of Honolulu City Council, old the Honolulu Star-Advertiser<\/u><\/a>. \u201cIt should be available and accessible in as many places as possible, in the same way we have fire extinguishers and defibrillators in case of emergencies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis new law will not only save lives, it will hopefully set an example for other cities throughout the United States,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drug, known by its trade name Narcan, is hailed by law enforcement and medical professionals as a critical tool in preventing opioid overdose deaths. It was first distributed for over-the-counter use<\/u><\/a> by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in early September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNaloxone is a critical tool in addressing opioid overdoses and today\u2019s approval underscores the extensive efforts the agency has undertaken to combat the overdose crisis,\u201d said Patrizia Cavazzoni<\/u><\/a>, director of the FDA\u2019s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research in March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The drug is deployed using a nasal spray that can revive a person going through an opioid overdose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n