Opioid overdose deaths in the United States have risen dramatically in the last decade, largely driven by illicit fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Naloxone, a mu-opioid receptor antagonist, rapidly and safely reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. Increased access to naloxone has been identified by the US DHHS and the Surgeon General as a key initiative for reducing opioid overdose deaths. However, less than 1 in 10 patients who could benefit from naloxone have access to this life-saving antidote. Healthcare professionals can lead the way toward closing the naloxone access gap.

This activity provides participants with data describing opioid-related harms in the United States, discuss cutting-edge public health and pharmacy-driven initiatives for increasing access to naloxone and identify key research findings that pertain to strategies for identifying patients at risk for unintentional overdose and increasing access to life-saving harm reduction interventions.

At the conclusion of this continuing education activity, the participant will be able to:

1. Describe barriers to naloxone access and alternative distribution models in the United States.
2. Evaluate current strategies to expand access to naloxone, naloxone devices, and proposed alternative models.
3. Develop patient care strategies for increasing access to naloxone and other harm-reduction resources

AchieveCE is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. AchieveCE is also accredited by the Florida Board of Pharmacy (provider no. 50-20641). This course is approved by CE Broker, with CE Broker No. 20-899366.

William Eggleston, PharmD, DABATreceived his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Wilkes University and completed a fellowship in clinical toxicology and emergency medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University and with the Upstate New York Poison Center in Syracuse, N.Y.

This activity was developed by AchieveCE free of any commercial support. William Eggleston, PharmD, DABAT has no actual or potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

  Level 2. Basic Application of Skills and Concepts