To the Editor:
We applaud the article by Okie (Nov. 18 issue)1 on the increasing number of overdose deaths, since we have seen far too many patients die prematurely of opioid overdoses. One topic was missing from this article: the usefulness of providing access to naloxone to be administered by laypersons to prevent death from an opioid overdose. Several studies involving illicit-drug users have confirmed that training laypeople to recognize and respond appropriately to an overdose situation is feasible, safe, and effective.2–4 Thousands of lives have been saved with either intramuscular injection or intranasal spray of naloxone.5 If it were the standard of care for physicians who prescribe long-acting opiates to also prescribe accompanying naloxone and provide access to brief training on its use, there would be far fewer overdose deaths. Improving access to prescribed naloxone is one fundamental lifesaving response within a clinician’s reach to directly address the unprecedented “flood of opioids” and “rising tide of deaths.”
Footnotes
No potential conflict of interest relevant to this letter was reported.
Contributor Information
Josiah D. Rich, Brown University Medical School Providence, RI
Traci C. Green, Brown University Medical School Providence, RI
Michelle S. McKenzie, Miriam Hospital Providence, RI
References
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