Clinical Cases Podcast Series-FREE NO CME-Naloxone, Overdose Prevention, and Harm Reduction

Naloxone, Overdose Prevention, and Harm Reduction

Pdf Summary

Naloxone is a lifesaving antidote for opioid overdose and is widely recommended for at-risk patients by major public health and medical authorities, including the CDC, SAMHSA, the World Health Organization, the American Medical Association, and the FDA. Many states either mandate naloxone co-prescribing for high-risk patients or allow pharmacy access without an individual prescription. The evidence supporting naloxone’s effectiveness in reducing overdose deaths is strong, and for clinicians who prescribe opioids or treat opioid use disorder (OUD), prescribing naloxone is increasingly considered a standard of care.<br /><br />Providing a naloxone prescription also creates an opportunity for clinicians to discuss overdose risk, reinforce adherence to prescribed treatment plans, and counsel patients about behaviors that increase overdose risk. As a low-barrier, efficient intervention, naloxone prescribing supports opioid stewardship and improves patient safety.<br /><br />For patients on chronic opioid therapy, the Compass Opioid Stewardship Program recommends: (1) educating all patients on opioid overdose, how to use naloxone, and safe storage and disposal of medications; (2) prescribing naloxone to all patients receiving chronic opioid therapy; (3) for patients at high risk of overdose, confirming the naloxone prescription has been filled—such as by asking patients to bring naloxone to office visits; and (4) counseling patients with children, pets, or other household members about diversion and accidental exposure/overdose risks, emphasizing that naloxone can improve safety for everyone in homes where opioids are present.<br /><br />The toolkit also lists supporting resources for patient and clinician education, including guides to naloxone for chronic opioid therapy patients, Narcan training videos, and materials on safe medication storage and disposal, along with a brief clinician-focused analysis noting naloxone is effective, well-received, and underutilized.

Keywords

naloxone

opioid overdose

opioid stewardship

chronic opioid therapy

overdose prevention

prescription safety

opioid use disorder

Narcan training

safe medication storage

patient education