Estimating Naloxone Need in the USA Across Fentanyl, Heroin, and Prescription Opioid Epidemics
2022
This article from The Lancet Public Health estimates the need for naloxone across fentanyl, heroin, and prescription opioid epidemics. Further, it provides evidence of the need to broaden naloxone distribution to reduce the incidence of fatal overdose. The authors found that demand for naloxone differed by epidemic type, with fentanyl epidemics having the highest probability of naloxone use during overdose events. Additionally, community-based and pharmacy-initiated naloxone access points had a higher likelihood of naloxone use and need than provider prescription access. This article modeled demand across 12 states and found that almost all states would need between 0 and 1270 additional kits per 100,000 population to reach a target of naloxone use in 80 percent of witnessed overdoses.
Estimating Naloxone Need in the USA Across Fentanyl, Heroin, and Prescription Opioid Epidemics
Source:
Irvine M et al. Estimating Naloxone Need in the USA Across Fentanyl, Heroin, and Prescription Opioid Epidemics: A Modelling Study. The Lancet Public Health 2022; 7(3): 210-218. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(21)00304-2.