A pilot study surveying the impact of pharmacist-led counseling on naloxone dispensing

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of pharmacist counseling on patients purchasing naloxone and to highlight reasons for naloxone purchase refusal.

A multisite study that was conducted from September 15, 2022, to January 11, 2023.

Independent community pharmacies.

Fifty patients met inclusion criteria. Data collected included demographics, preintervention knowledge assessment, post-intervention naloxone purchase, and reasons for naloxone refusal.

The primary outcome was naloxone purchase after pharmacist education intervention. The secondary outcome was reasons for naloxone purchase refusal.

The primary outcome showed that 60 percent of patients purchased naloxone after pharmacist intervention. As a secondary outcome, the number of patients who refused to purchase naloxone was 20 percent, with the majority of patients expressing that naloxone was not necessary as a reason for refusal.

More studies are needed in order to conclude the impact of pharmacist education on the increasing purchase of naloxone.