title: Increase in Naloxone Prescriptions Dispensed in US Retail Pharmacies Since 2013.
abstract: Distribution of naloxone, traditionally through community-based naloxone programs, is a component of a comprehensive strategy to address the epidemic of prescription opioid and heroin overdose deaths in the United States. Recently, there has been increased focus on naloxone prescription in the outpatient setting, particularly through retail pharmacies, yet data on this practice are sparse. We found an 1170% increase in naloxone dispensing from US retail pharmacies between the fourth quarter of 2013 and the second quarter of 2015. These findings suggest that prescribing naloxone in the outpatient setting complements traditional community-based naloxone programs.
authors.affiliation: Christopher M. Jones is with the Division of Science Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC. Peter G. Lurie is with the Office of Public Health Strategy and Analysis, Office of the Commissioner, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD. Wilson M. Compton is with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD.
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Christopher M. Jones is with the Division of Science Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC. Peter G. Lurie is with the Office of Public Health Strategy and Analysis, Office of the Commissioner, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD. Wilson M. Compton is with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD.
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Lurie
authors.affiliation: Christopher M. Jones is with the Division of Science Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC. Peter G. Lurie is with the Office of Public Health Strategy and Analysis, Office of the Commissioner, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD. Wilson M. Compton is with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD.
authors.forename: Wilson M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Compton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000506:poisoning; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009270:Naloxone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000639:trends*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009270:Naloxone