Statistics and Information on Nalmefene Use for Alcohol Addiction and Opioid Overdose Treatment in California and Beyond
Nalmefene, an opioid antagonist, offers a great deal of hope for treating alcohol dependence by decreasing the urge to drink and helping individuals reduce their alcohol intake. In 1994, a double-blind study highlighted nalmefene as a newer opioid antagonist, structurally like naltrexone, but with several pharmacological and clinical advantages for alcohol dependence treatment.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1995 approved nalmefene as an antidote for opioid overdose, and since that time, nalmefene has only gained further recognition. In 2023, the FDA approved a nalmefene nasal spray for emergency opioid overdose treatment, specifically targeting the growing opioid crisis, including fentanyl overdoses. A recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle highlighted concerns about California’s hesitance to utilize nalmefene treatment, particularly with the longer-lasting effects of the nasal spray and its ability to counteract fentanyl’s devastating effects.