You may have noticed that Narcan, a life-saving drug that reverses opioid overdoses, is often given out for free, while insulin, which is essential for people with diabetes, can come with a hefty price tag. This can seem confusing and unfair, especially when both medications are crucial for saving lives. So why the difference? Let’s take a look at the reasons behind it.
What Are Narcan and Insulin?
- Narcan (also called naloxone) is a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. It’s easy to use and can save someone who’s overdosing within minutes.
- Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels, and people with diabetes need it to survive. Without insulin, diabetics can experience serious health complications.
Why Is Narcan Free?
Many public health agencies and organizations hand out Narcan for free because of the urgency of the opioid crisis. The goal is to get Narcan into as many hands as possible to prevent overdose deaths. Narcan is relatively simple to administer and doesn’t require ongoing monitoring, which makes it easier to distribute widely and for free.
Plus, the cost of Narcan is fairly low, around $40 to $100 per kit. By preventing overdose deaths and avoiding hospital visits, emergency services, and criminal investigations, handing out Narcan can actually save communities money in the long run.
Why Isn’t Insulin Free?
Insulin is a more complex medication that requires careful dosing and daily use. People with diabetes need to adjust their insulin based on things like their diet, exercise, and blood sugar levels. Because it’s an ongoing treatment, people need a steady supply, which makes it more expensive over time.
- Cost of Insulin: Insulin prices can vary, but they are often much higher than Narcan. A month’s supply of insulin can cost hundreds, even thousands of dollars, depending on the type.
- Storage Requirements: Insulin needs to be refrigerated, which complicates how it can be distributed and stored. Narcan, on the other hand, is much more stable and doesn’t require refrigeration, making it easier to hand out without worrying about how it’s stored.
Dosing Complexity
One of the biggest differences between Narcan and insulin is how they’re used. Narcan is typically given in emergency situations, often in a single dose. There’s no need for ongoing monitoring or adjusting the dose.
Insulin, however, requires precise dosing and needs to be managed every day. People with diabetes often need to take multiple doses daily and adjust their dosage based on their individual needs, making it a much more involved process than just giving out a single-use medication.
The Cost Problem
While Narcan is more affordable and can be distributed widely, insulin has a much higher cost due to factors like manufacturing, research, and ongoing demand. Unfortunately, while some programs exist to make insulin more affordable, it’s not provided for free the way Narcan is.
Narcan is handed out for free because it can save lives in emergency overdose situations and is easier and cheaper to distribute. Insulin, while equally life-saving, requires ongoing use, careful management, and has higher costs associated with its production and storage. While it’s frustrating that insulin isn’t free like Narcan, the differences in how the medications are used and produced help explain why they’re handled differently.