In the first public health advisory from his office in 13 years, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, has asked Americans—particularly those who have friends, family or are personally at risk of overdosing on opioids—to carry the overdose-reversing medication naloxone.
Naloxone has become more commonplace among first responders as the opioid epidemic as grown, with dispensing increasing tenfold between 2013 and 2015, according to a study in the American Journal of Public Health. It’s also become more widely available over the counter in pharmacies and has been recommended by the American Medical Association (AMA) to be co-prescribed for patients at risk of an overdose, with expanded access labeled a priority by President Donald Trump’s anti-opioid efforts.
While naloxone is only part of a long-term solution, along with medication-assisted therapy and behavioral therapy, Adams said it can save lives of those who have overdosed on prescription opioids or illicit versions like heroin or fentanyl. His advisory said people who are or know someone who is at risk of overdosing should get trained on how to use the injectable and nasal mist versions of naloxone and keep the medication on hand.
“Research shows that when naloxone and overdose education are available to community members, overdose deaths decrease in those communities,” the advisory said. “Therefore, increasing the availability and targeted distribution of naloxone is a critical component of our efforts to reduce opioid-related overdose deaths and, when combined with the availability of effective treatment, to ending the opioid epidemic.”
The medication is safe to administer for suspected overdoses, the advisory said, while noting most states have implemented “Good Samaritan” laws protecting people from civil and criminal liability when administering naloxone or calling for help during an opioid overdose. The same protections often cover healthcare professionals who prescribe or dispense the medication.
The advisory said naloxone may be readily available without a prescription and may also be covered by insurance plans. What it doesn’t mention is the increased expense of the medication as demand has shot up: the price of naloxone-filled syringes has jumped from $6 to more than $30, according to NPR, while a two-pack of the nasal mist version can cost $135 and the autoinjectors can run as high as $3,700.
Patrice Harris, MA, chair of the AMA’s opioid task force, strongly endorsed the Surgeon General advisory, but mentioned that the cost of naloxone needed to be addressed.
“All forms of naloxone should be readily available and covered by insurance plans with minimal or no cost-sharing. The AMA looks forward to working closely with the Surgeon General’s Office to help bring an end to the epidemic of opioid overdose deaths,” Harris said in a statement.
John joined TriMed in 2016, focusing on healthcare policy and regulation. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago, he worked at FM News Chicago and Rivet News Radio, and worked on the state government and politics beat for the Illinois Radio Network. Outside of work, you may find him adding to his never-ending graphic novel collection.