title: Distribution of naloxone for overdose prevention to chronic pain patients.
abstract: In this commentary, we reflect on the growing opioid overdose epidemic and propose that chronic pain patients prescribed opioids are contributing to growing mortality rates. We advocate for expanding naloxone access and overdose prevention training, which has historically been directed when available to injection drug users, to chronic pain patients who may be at high risk for accidental opioid overdose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, 845 Angliana Avenue, Lexington, KY 40508, United States; Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, 845 Angliana Avenue, Lexington, KY 40508, United States.
authors.forename: Marion A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Coe
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, 845 Angliana Avenue, Lexington, KY 40508, United States; Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, 845 Angliana Avenue, Lexington, KY 40508, United States; Department of Behavioral Science, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, 845 Angliana Avenue, Lexington, KY 40508, United States. Electronic address: sharon.walsh@uky.edu.
authors.forename: Sharon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000506:poisoning; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D009270:Naloxone / Q000600:supply & distribution / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000600:supply & distribution / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D012308:Risk Management
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009270:Naloxone
keywords: Analgesics/opioid; Chronic pain; Drug overdose; Naloxone