Emergency Department-Initiated Interventions for Illicit Drug Overdose: An Integrative Review of Best Practices

More than 20 million people in the United States have a substance use disorder (SUD), increasing their risk for overdose (OD). Patients arriving to emergency departments (EDs) with OD typically require lifesaving interventions, but inconsistencies exist regarding further intervention and discharge instructions. The purpose of the current integrative review was to determine best care practices for patients presenting to EDs with an illicit drug OD. A literature search included the databases PubMed, EBSCO Host, ProQuest Health and Medicine, and Google Scholar. Thirty-five articles outlined interventions for SUD/OD initiated in EDs; most for opioid OD. Best practice intervention components included psychiatric evaluations, SUD screening tools, buprenorphine initiation, naloxone distribution and training, OD prevention education, referrals to medication-assisted treatment, and harm reduction strategies. Barriers to implementation included legislation, insurance/costs, community resource availability, staffing, training, and potential stigma. With myriad approaches, nurses with SUD care experience can advocate for instituting best practices for patients in the ED and upon discharge. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 61(6), 18-24.].