Naloxone Counseling for Harm Reduction and Patient Engagement

The United States is experiencing an epidemic of opioid-related deaths. Naloxone, the drug of choice for reversing acute opioid overdose, is not routinely prescribed for outpatient use. The aims of this project were to improve naloxone awareness, increase naloxone prescribing, and prevent opioid overdoses.

A naloxone counseling intervention was implemented in three family health centers by an interprofessional team of providers including family medicine physicians, clinical pharmacists, and social workers. An outreach letter was designed with provider input, an electronic order set was developed to facilitate prescribing, and intranasal naloxone kits were assembled for free dispensing. Providers and staff received education about opioid overdose and naloxone prescribing. Faculty and resident physicians were surveyed before and after the intervention to assess their attitudes. Patients who received naloxone kits were surveyed to assess their attitudes and use of opioids and naloxone.

Over 16 months, 71 outreach letters were distributed and 97 naloxone kits were dispensed. The majority of kits were prescribed for illicit opioid use. Faculty and resident physician surveys indicated improved knowledge about naloxone prescribing, and increased professional satisfaction caring for patients requesting opioids. Surveyed patients endorsed high levels of comfort discussing opioid use with their primary care physician. Five successful opioid overdose reversals were reported.

An interprofessional naloxone counseling intervention engaged patients in opioid use discussions, increased provider satisfaction, and reversed overdoses. Improving naloxone access is an essential component of comprehensive overdose prevention programs that encourage responsible opioid prescribing and use.