New Mexico health and human services officials say the state Medicaid program now covers the cost of a medicine used to reverse drug overdoses.
Officials announced Tuesday that Centennial care will cover Naloxone, which is a prescription medication that can be sprayed into the nose of a person experiencing an overdose from heroin, methadone or prescription pain medications like oxycontin and hydrocodone.
The drug has been used for decades by emergency responders and hospitals to revive patients from overdose and has been distributed through public health programs across the country to drug users and their families or friends.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows New Mexico has the second highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the country.
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