Impact of California Statute on Naloxone Availability and Opioid Overdose Rates

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pharmacology
• Health Policy

Background:

• The opioid crisis remains a critical public health issue, necessitating accessible overdose reversal medications.
• Ensuring access to naloxone (an opioid overdose reversal medication) is a key strategy in combating opioid-related deaths.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of California Assembly Bill 1535 (CA AB1535), enacted in 2016, which permits pharmacies to dispense naloxone without a prescription.
• To assess pharmacists' awareness and practice of dispensing naloxone under the new law.

Main Methods:

• A survey of 146 California pharmacists was conducted between July and August 2021.
• Pharmacies were categorized by population density, opioid-related death rates, and opioid prescription rates.
• Chi-square tests were used to analyze data on naloxone dispensing practices and awareness of CA AB1535.

Main Results:

• 94% of surveyed pharmacies were aware of CA AB1535, and 64% dispensed naloxone without a prescription.
• Few statistically significant differences in dispensing practices were observed across different county categories.
• No significant relationship was found between pharmacy naloxone availability and overdose death rates.

Conclusions:

• Naloxone dispensing by California pharmacies has increased since the implementation of CA AB1535.
• Despite increased pharmacy access to naloxone, opioid overdose rates have continued to rise, underscoring the need for multifaceted harm reduction approaches.
• Further research into comprehensive harm reduction strategies is warranted to address the ongoing opioid crisis.