Skip to content
Govbase
Govbase
Congress·Reported·S. 3758

Sen. Shaheen Introduces End Veterans Overdose Act to Provide Free Naloxone at VA Pharmacies

End Veterans Overdose Act of 2026

about 2 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

Senate
House
President
Law

Key Points

  • The bill requires the VA to provide opioid overdose rescue medications, like naloxone, for free at VA pharmacies. Veterans and their caregivers can pick these up without needing a prescription.

    From policy text

    “The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make covered medications available at pharmacies of the Department of Veterans Affairs to any covered veteran or caregiver of a covered veteran at no charge and without a prescription.”
    View in full text
  • The VA is strictly prohibited from using any information collected through this program to hurt a veteran's employment prospects or as evidence of drug use or addiction. This privacy protection is designed to remove barriers that might stop veterans from seeking help.

    From policy text

    “The Secretary may not use any personally identifiable information collected under this section-- (A) for the purpose of preventing a veteran from employment; (B) as evidence of a history of drug use; or (C) as evidence that an individual is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance.”
    View in full text
  • Every veteran or caregiver who receives the medication must also get clear instructions on how to use it. This ensures people are prepared to act in an overdose emergency.

    From policy text

    “The Secretary shall ensure that any veteran or caregiver of a covered veteran who receives a covered medication under subsection (a) also receives drug information on the use of such medication.”
    View in full text
  • The VA must report to Congress within two years and annually after that on how many people use the program. The reports must also assess whether the program should expand to cover veterans' family members and private healthcare providers outside the VA system.

    From policy text

    “An assessment of the feasibility of expanding the authority under this section to provide covered medications to immediate family members of covered veterans.”
    View in full text
VeteransHealthcare

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

3 milestones3 actions
Mar 18, 2026Senate

Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Feb 2, 2026Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Feb 2, 2026

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Within 6-12 months of enactment

VA pharmacies begin distributing free naloxone to veterans and caregivers

Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare can walk into any VA pharmacy and get opioid overdose rescue medication at no cost and without a doctor's prescription

Two years after program launch

VA submits first report to Congress on program usage and expansion feasibility

Congress will learn how many veterans used the program and whether it should be expanded to family members and non-VA healthcare providers

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

End Veterans Overdose Act of 2026

Bill NumberS 3758
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionCommittee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(1)
R: 1

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.