Still Not Enough Naloxone Where It’s Most Needed | WPN World People News

The overdose-reversing drug naloxone saves lives – but only if it’s readily available when an overdose occurs.

Despite a huge increase in naloxone prescribing in recent years, CDC researchers report in the latest Vital Signs study published today that far too little naloxone is being dispensed in many areas of the country that need it the most.

Moreover, too few doctors are prescribing naloxone to patients receiving high-dose opioids or opioids plus benzodiazepines or to those with a substance use disorder as recommended by CDC’s Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. Nearly 9 million more naloxone prescriptions could have been dispensed in 2018 if every patient with a high-dose opioid prescription were offered naloxone.

Key findings

•The number of naloxone prescriptions dispensed doubled from 2017 to 2018.

•Only one naloxone prescription is dispensed for every 70 high-dose opioid prescriptions nationwide.

•Most (71%) Medicare prescriptions for naloxone required a copay, compared to 42% for commercial insurance.

•Rural counties were nearly 3 times more likely to be a low-dispensing county compared to metropolitan counties.

•Naloxone dispensing is 25 times greater in the highest-dispensing counties than the lowest-dispensing counties.

Working together to prevent opioid overdoses

CDC recommends that healthcare providers consider offering naloxone to all patients at risk for overdose. Some risk factors make patients particularly vulnerable to prescription opioid overdose, including taking high daily dosages of prescription opioid pain relievers, using benzodiazepines concurrently with opioids, and having a history of substance use disorder.

Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention