The opioid epidemic in the US has been fueled by deceit from pharmaceutical companies and the over-prescription of opioids, resulting in a widespread impact on thousands of lives. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, has been identified as a risk mitigation strategy in the fight against opioid use disorder (OUD) and overdoses. This rescue medication can reverse the effects of opioids by binding to opioid receptors and preventing other opioids from affecting the patient.
Naloxone co-prescribing laws have been introduced by many states to facilitate opioid education, widen treatment access and minimize the unfavorable outcomes associated with opioid prescriptions. While all 50 states have enacted access laws, few regulatory guidelines exist for co-prescribing, with most legislation falling to individual states. The benefits of co-prescribing include educating patients on opioids, OUD and overdose safety and teaching patients how to use naloxone in case of an emergency.
Read more, including insights from Caroline Collins, Senior Behavioral Health Implementation Specialist at Sunwave, on the potential impact of co-prescribing legislation, education outcomes, and how we can apply lessons learned from across healthcare to lower opioid overdose rates.
Access the full article here. (3 minute read)
