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Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs
Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs: The June issue of ASAM’s Journal of Addiction Medicine included a review about the use of naloxone for rapid drug reversal. The review found that “Bystanders (mostly opioid users) can and will use naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses when properly trained, and…this training can be done successfully through opioid overdose prevention programs.” Further study on naloxone’s impact on overdose deaths, the benefits of these prevention programs at the population level, and the effectiveness and implementation on opioid overdose prevention programs in existing treatment centers is recommended.
ASAM’s take: ASAM has supported the use of naloxone since 2010. This fast-acting, effective, non-addictive opioid antagonist can be administered quickly and effectively, helping to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. ASAM recommends training and utilization of naloxone by early responders, corrections officers, law enforcement officers, staff of certain organizations serving high-risk populations, family members, significant others and companions. Authorized dispensers should be required to undergo training and education in the prevention, detection and appropriate response to drug overdose.
What you can do: In order to increase effective use of naloxone, ASAM offers the following resources:
