FAA considers stocking naloxone on all airplanes

By: Ellie Romano

Email: ERomano@ABC6.com

Twitter: @ERomanoABC6

WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) – The Federal Aviation Administration is considering the possibility of adding the overdose reversal drug naloxone to all flights.

The FAA reevaluated the contents of its first-aid kits and found there is a need to update the kits to include opioid antagonists like naloxone. 

The agency is now reviewing the best way to include naloxone on airplanes. 

Congressman Jim Langevin has been imploring the agency to make the change since the summer. 

“As opioid overdoses continue to claim thousands of lives each year, we must ensure access to life-saving treatments both on the ground and in the air,” said Congressman Langevin.

Some airlines, like Frontier and Alaska Airlines, already keep naloxone onboard.

Delta also began supplying the drug this fall after a passenger reportedly overdosed and died on a flight from Boston to Los Angeles this summer. 

“Despite incidents of airline passengers suffering opioid-induced overdoses, drugs like naloxone are not currently required onboard passenger aircraft,” said Langevin.

Langevin applauded the FAA after the agency announced it’s considering requiring the life-saving drug on flights. 

“I am pleased the FAA shares my concerns on this issue and is working to include overdose reversal drugs in emergency medical kits onboard airlines going forward,” said Langevin.   

Before the FAA can make naloxone a requirement, it first needs to go through the process of how to implement the drug on flights. According to the FAA, that could be a lengthy process.

In the meantime, the agency is encouraging airlines to voluntarily stock the drug and train their staff on how to administer it. 

©WLNE-TV/ABC6 2019