Naloxone Access and Use Patterns Across Three U.S. States

• In Event: 2151 - Section on Alcohol, Drugs, and Tobacco Roundtable
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: 2. Critical Analyses of Responses to Drug Use

Abstract

Background: Despite efforts to increase naloxone distribution to people using opioids, their family and friends, opioid deaths continue to increase due to more potent opioids, such as fentanyl, in illicit drug markets. Little is known regarding naloxone access and use patterns of individuals who are actively using opioids. Here we report preliminary findings of a study on active users of opioids in three U.S. states to examine differences in access to naloxone, patterns of administration, and experiences administering or being administered naloxone.
Methods: Qualitative and quantitative data are integrated in this ethnographic study on active opioid users in suburban towns around Atlanta, Georgia; Boston, Massachusetts; and New Haven, Connecticut. Descriptive analysis of survey and in-depth interviews (N=106) focused on responses to questions on naloxone access and administration.
Results: In the combined sample, 60% had experienced an opioid overdose and 50% said they had been administered naloxone. While there was little difference between study field sites in the percentage of those who overdosed, Massachusetts surpassed other study sites in opioid users’ access to naloxone, as well as having naloxone administered or administering naloxone to others. The Boston suburban participants also had more variety in where to access naloxone and where naloxone was administered than participants in other field sites.
Conclusions: Findings show a need for increased naloxone training for peers in opioid-using networks, a greater variety of access points, and more harm-reduction intervention. Qualitative insights suggest targeted distributions of different naloxone delivery systems to address fentanyl-related opioid overdose deaths.

Authors

• Miriam W. Boeri, Bentley University

• Aukje Lamonica, Southern Connecticut State University