*By Christian Smith*
After an overdose earlier this week, Demi Lovato's life was reportedly saved by Narcan, a nasal administrator of naloxone that counteracts the effects of opioids. When administered quicklyーthrough either nasal mist or injectionーnaloxone can temporarily halt an overdose, allowing EMTs enough time to respond. The medication is available without a prescription in 49 states, and the generic version costs about $20 per dose.
But all merits aside, is the drug's accessibility enabling addicts to push their limits?
Dr. Roger Crystal, the lead inventor of Narcan and CEO of Opiant Pharmaceuticals, says there's little evidence to support that concern.
"Addiction like any kind of chronic disease is something you can control using better medication, but ultimately you can't cure," Crystal told Cheddar. "To think about an opioid addict behaving rationally and saying, 'well because I have access to Narcan I'll shoot more heroin, inject more heroin' there's no proof for that whatsoever."
Naloxone is considered some of the best ammunition on the front lines of America's growing opioid epidemic. A reported 2 million Americans have an addition to opioidsーand the number isn't going down. U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams [issued an advisory](https://www.surgeongeneral.gov/priorities/opioid-overdose-prevention/naloxone-advisory.html) in April urging anyoneーand their close family and friendsーwho uses painkillers, heroin, fentanyl, or other opioids to carry naloxone in case of an emergency.
Crystal isn't stopping at Narcan: he told Cheddar he's also developing a heroin vaccine, suggesting the inventor has lofty ambitions for the future of overdose prevention.
Although Crystal may be aware of lingering ethical concerns, he doesn't think they dwarf his mission. After all, Lovato has him to thank.
"Putting it in the hands of everyone and anyone is critical," Crystal said.
For more on this story, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/how-one-pharmaceutical-company-is-fighting-the-opioid-epidemic).
The Artificial Intelligence Caucus is a group of bipartisan lawmakers working together to ensure technology has a positive impact on America's future. Congressman John Delaney (D-MD) believes A.I. will be a "paradigm-shifting development," and he thinks the government needs to encourage its growth.
The bipartisan caucus aims to work with the private sector to make sure technological change "doesn't leave huge parts of the country behind," says Rep. John Delaney (D-MD), who founded the group.
Nordstrom and Gap release earnings. American Outdoor Brands says sales fell 32.6% year over year. The Dow drops after President Trump announced heavy tariffs on aluminum and steel. Twitter is asking the public to help it evaluate how toxic the social media platform really is
Kroger follows Walmart and Dick's Sporting Goods in becoming the third major retailer to impose tighter regulations on gun sales. NBC is cutting back on commercial time to compete with streaming giants like Netflix and Hulu. Hope Hicks, one of President Trump's closest aides, is out as White House communications director. And Congressman John Delaney (D-MD) joins us to discuss the future of artificial intelligence.
Hanneke Weitering, staff writer at Space.com, discusses Vodafone Germany teaming up with Nokia to bring a 4G network to the moon. The network will allow astronauts to stream HD video back to Earth on an upcoming mission.
Spotify files to go public. Dick's will immediately stop selling assault rifles. President Trump meets with lawmakers on gun control. White House communications director Hope Hicks is resigning from her post. Facebook launching a new initiative to take on sites like LinkedIn and Glassdoor.
It's been unseasonably warm in many parts of the country this winter, but nothing compared to the Arctic. Temperatures normally hover around four degrees below zero, but have been climbing much higher.
Between Bells: Ryan Seacrest Red Carpet controversy, NCAA scandal, and why is it so hot at the North Pole? With Salon, LiveScience, Pizza Hut, and Madame Noire.
Georgia's Lieutenant Governor is calling on Delta to reinstate its relationship with the NRA. The Dow closes down 300 points. Amazon is buying smart doorbell maker Ring. Former NBA star Al Harrington is looking to become the next marijuana mogul. Cronos Group started trading on the Nasdaq Tuesday. The vertically integrated company became the first marijuana company to join a major exchange in the United States.
Claire Maldarelli, assistant editor at Popular Science, discusses the 2017-2018 flu season that scientists have named as one of the worst in the last decade.
Joe Blackburn, the CEO of Crypto Coin Trader and head advisor at Crypto Hunt, explains how his company is using an augmented reality and blockchain game to help initiate users into crypto.
