The Effect of Opioid Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution Programs on Opioid-Related Mortality
Faculty Advisor Name
Dr. Erika Kancler
Description
Objective: To determine the effectiveness of opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) program implementation in reducing opioid-related overdose mortality. Methods: A PubMed search was conducted using the terms “opioid overdose prevention community naloxone,” yielding 80 records, 36 of which were screened. The remaining 44 articles were reviewed for eligibility, resulting in three articles chosen for the study. Results: An interrupted time-series analysis by Walley et al., and two retrospective cohort studies by Albert et al. and Rowe et al. were analyzed. Conclusion: Studies by Walley et al. and Albert et al. demonstrated a positive association between OEND program implementation and a decrease in opioid-related mortality rates. Due to data variability, OEND program effectiveness could not be extrapolated with Rowe et al.; however, the study provided insight into targeting demographic characteristics for OEND program implementation. To address the national opioid epidemic, strategic, community-level efforts that leverage available resources should be used to establish OEND programs.
The Effect of Opioid Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution Programs on Opioid-Related Mortality
Objective: To determine the effectiveness of opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) program implementation in reducing opioid-related overdose mortality. Methods: A PubMed search was conducted using the terms “opioid overdose prevention community naloxone,” yielding 80 records, 36 of which were screened. The remaining 44 articles were reviewed for eligibility, resulting in three articles chosen for the study. Results: An interrupted time-series analysis by Walley et al., and two retrospective cohort studies by Albert et al. and Rowe et al. were analyzed. Conclusion: Studies by Walley et al. and Albert et al. demonstrated a positive association between OEND program implementation and a decrease in opioid-related mortality rates. Due to data variability, OEND program effectiveness could not be extrapolated with Rowe et al.; however, the study provided insight into targeting demographic characteristics for OEND program implementation. To address the national opioid epidemic, strategic, community-level efforts that leverage available resources should be used to establish OEND programs.
