Resources
15 Results (showing 1 - 10)
Results sorted by posted date (newest first)
Results sorted by posted date (newest first)
Posted 7/21/2023 (updated 3/28/2024)
Disparities in access to naloxone exist and organizations are working to remove some of these barriers by utilizing innovative methods such as vending machines to distribute the overdose medication. This provides life-saving medication in an accessible way to everyone, although laws vary state to state on the distribution of these tools. More information on naloxone vending machines can be found in these resources by the Bureau of Justice Assistance's (BJA) Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP) and The Network for Public Health Law.
Posted 4/28/2023 (updated 3/27/2024)
With the proliferation of fentanyl and other adulterants in the national illicit drug supply, people who use drugs (PWUD) are at greater risk of overdose. Among more than 107,000 drug overdose deaths that occurred between July 2021–June 2022, 64% involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Lowering the high rates of overdose among PWUD is possible, as evidence-based practices exist to prevent and respond to overdose, including fentanyl test strips and advanced drug checking equipment. To inform health departments’ harm reduction programming, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing – with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – developed Enhancing Harm Reduction Services in Health Departments: Fentanyl Test Strips and Other Drug Checking Equipment, an educational brief grounded by real-world experience.
Posted 11/15/2022 (updated 3/27/2024)
In this decision analytical model study evaluating the distribution of 10 000 additional naloxone kits annually in Rhode Island, the strategy focusing on distribution of naloxone according to geographic need to people who inject drugs resulted in the best outcomes at the lowest cost, averting an estimated 25.3% of opioid overdose deaths at an incremental cost of $27 312 per opioid overdose death averted
Posted 11/1/2022 (updated 3/27/2024)
Racial/ethnic minorities have experienced disproportionate opioid-related overdose death rates in recent years. In this context, inequities were examined in community-based naloxone access across racial/ethnic groups in Massachusetts.
Posted 6/27/2022 (updated 3/27/2024)
Naloxone leave behind programs are a popular public health intervention for combatting the opioid epidemic. These programs are designed for first responders to educate and equip high risk, nonmedical individuals to respond to opioid overdose scenarios. However, stigma and misconceptions regarding naloxone remain common among medical providers, including emergency medical services (EMS) members.
Posted 4/26/2022 (updated 3/27/2024)
Background: The US overdose crisis is driven by fentanyl, heroin, and prescription opioids. One evidence-based policy response has been to broaden naloxone distribution, but how much naloxone a community would need to reduce the incidence of fatal overdose is unclear. We aimed to estimate state-level US naloxone need in 2017 across three main naloxone access points (community-based programmes, provider prescription, and pharmacy-initiated distribution) and by dominant opioid epidemic type (fentanyl, heroin, and prescription opioid).
Posted 2/9/2022 (updated 3/26/2024)
Summary of innovation abstracts that were presented at the National Academy of Medicine’s recent Stigma of Addiction Summit.
Posted 10/20/2021 (updated 4/3/2024)
Background As the opioid overdose crisis persists and take-home naloxone (THN) programmes expand, it is important that the intervention is targeted towards those most likely to use it. We examined THN program participants to 1) describe those that return for refills, specifically those that reported multiple use (supersavers) and 2) to determine what rescuer characteristics were associated with higher rates of THN use.
Methods This study included a cohort of consenting THN recipients from June 2014- June 2021 who completed initial and refill questionnaires from a widespread program in Norway. Adjusted logistic regression was used to explore associations with higher rates of THN use. ‘Super-savers’ reported three or more THN uses.
Posted 12/29/2020 (updated 4/4/2024)
An analysis of emergency department data shows a rise in nonfatal drug overdoses for youth under 15, from 2016 to 2019. Overdoses among the youngest kids aged 0-14 are relatively rate. However, risk increases with age, as the rate of all drug overdoses among youth aged 15-24 was more than double that of 11-14-year olds. Stimulant overdoses increased for all age groups, while heroin decreased for 15-24-year olds.
Posted 12/29/2020 (updated 4/4/2024)
Whereas outpatient treatment with medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is evidence based, there is a large network of inpatient facilities in the US that are reimbursed by commercial insurers and do not typically offer MOUD. This study is a comparison of rates of overdose and hospitalization after initiation of medication for Opioid Use Disorder in the inpatient vs outpatient setting.