Prescribe to Prevent: Overdose Prevention and Naloxone Rescue Kits for Prescribers and Pharmacists.
In March of 2015, the United States Department of Health and Human Services identified 3 priority areas to reduce opioid use disorders and overdose, which are as follows: opioid-prescribing practices; expanded use and distribution of naloxone; and expansion of medication-assisted treatment. In this narrative review of overdose prevention and the role of prescribers and pharmacists in distributing naloxone, we address these priority areas and present a clinical scenario within the review involving a pharmacist, a patient with chronic pain and anxiety, and a primary care physician. We also discuss current laws related to naloxone prescribing and dispensing. This review was adapted from the Prescribe to Prevent online continuing medical education module created for prescribers and pharmacists (http://www.opioidprescribing.com/naloxone_module_1-landing).
Clinical Addiction Research and Education Unit (JKL, AYW), Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA; College of Pharmacy (JPB), University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI; Network for Public Health Law (CSD), St. Paul, MN; Departments of Emergency Medicine and Epidemiology (TCG), Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI; and Department of Emergency Medicine (TCG), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.
Jamie K
JK
Lim
Jeffrey P
JP
Bratberg
Corey S
CS
Davis
Traci C
TC
Green
Alexander Y
AY
Walley
D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009270:Naloxone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000592:standards*
D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009270:Naloxone