Investigating the complexity of naloxone distribution: Which policies matter for pharmacies and potential recipients.

ABSTRACT: Despite efforts to expand naloxone access, opioid-related overdoses remain a significant contributor to mortality. We study state efforts to expand naloxone distribution through pharmacies by reducing the non-monetary costs to prescribers, dispensers, and/or potential recipients of naloxone. We find that laws that only address liability costs have small and insignificant effects on the volume of naloxone dispensed through pharmacies. In contrast, we estimate large effects of laws removing the need for patients to obtain prescriptions from traditional prescribers (e.g., primary care physicians): laws authorizing non-patient-specific prescription distribution and laws granting pharmacists prescriptive authority. We test whether areas designated as primary care shortage areas-where it would b

SUBMITTER: Smart R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11392605 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature