Knowledge of Opioid Overdose and Attitudes to Supply of Take-Home Naloxone Among People with Chronic Noncancer Pain Prescribed Opioids.
Take-home naloxone (THN) is recommended in response to pharmaceutical opioid-related mortality. Some health professionals are reluctant to discuss THN for fear of causing offense. The aims of this study were to assess knowledge of opioid overdose and attitudes toward THN for opioid overdose reversal in people with chronic noncancer pain (CNCP).



Prospective cohort study.



Australia, September to October 2015.



A subset of participants (N = 208) from a cohort of people prescribed restricted opioids for CNCP.



Questions added in the two-year telephone interviews examined knowledge of overdose symptoms and attitudes toward community supply of naloxone. Associations with overdose risk factors and naloxone supply eligibility criteria with attitudes toward naloxone were explored.



Fourteen percent reported ever experiencing opioid overdose symptoms. Participants correctly identified fewer than half of the overdose signs and symptoms. After receiving information on naloxone, most participants (60%), thought it was a "good" or "very good" idea. Few participants reported that they would be "a little" (N = 21, 10%) or "very" offended (N = 7, 3%) if their opioid prescriber offered them naloxone. Positive attitudes toward THN were associated with male gender (odds ratio [OR] = 1.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09-3.50), past year cannabis use (OR = 2.52, 95% CI = 1.03-6.16), and past year nicotine use (OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.14-3.91).



Most participants had positive attitudes toward THN but low knowledge about opioid overdose symptoms. Strategies for educating patients and their caregivers on opioid toxicity are needed. THN may be best targeted toward those with risk factors in terms of overdose prevention and acceptability.
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.|Drug and Alcohol Services, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia.
Suzanne
S
Nielsen
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.|School of Medicine (Psychology), University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Amy
A
Peacock
Drug and Alcohol Services, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia.|Discipline of Addiction Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Nicholas
N
Lintzeris
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.|School of Medicine (Psychology), University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Raimondo
R
Bruno
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.
Briony
B
Larance
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.
Louisa
L
Degenhardt
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D040261:Harm Reduction; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009270:Naloxone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009270:Naloxone