Expanding Access to Naloxone Role of the Pharmacist

The last few years have witnessed an explosive increase in deaths due to drug overdose, largely fueled by deaths from opiates, especially heroin and prescription pain relievers. A number of strategies have been proposed to reduce overdose by limiting the availability of the abused drugs through changes in prescribing practices and law enforcement efforts. However, another approach has been to increase the availability of the opiate antagonist naloxone, in order to prevent the potential lethality resulting from an overdose. Initially, the expansion had focused on emergency personnel and community organizations, but an increasing number of states have implemented programs promoting distribution of naloxone by pharmacists to addicts and third parties as well as Good Samaritan laws providing civil and criminal immunity for prescribing, dispensing, and use. It is important for pharmacists to understand the changes in state regulations concerning naloxone distribution in order to ensure safe usage.