title: Preliminary evidence of health care provider support for naloxone prescription as overdose fatality prevention strategy in New York City.
abstract: Preliminary research suggests that naloxone (Narcan), a short-acting opiate antagonist, could be provided by prescription or distribution to heroin users to reduce the likelihood of fatality from overdose. We conducted a random postal survey of 1100 prescription-authorized health care providers in New York City to determine willingness to prescribe naloxone to patients at risk of an opiate overdose. Among 363 nurse practitioners, physicians, and physician assistants responding, 33.4% would consider prescribing naloxone, and 29.4% were unsure. This preliminary study suggests that a substantial number of New York City health care providers would prescribe naloxone for opiate overdose prevention.
authors.affiliation: Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies at the New York Academy of Medicine, USA. pcoffin9@itsa.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Phillip O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Coffin
authors.forename: Crystal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.forename: Liza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vadnai
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blaney
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galea
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vlahov
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009270:Naloxone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009519:New York City; D019037:Urban Health Services
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009270:Naloxone