Effectiveness of naloxone distribution in community settings to reduce opioid overdose deaths among people who use drugs: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

It is estimated that over 111,000 people in the U.S. died from a drug overdose in the twelve-month period ending in July 2023. More than three-quarters of those deaths were attributed to opioids. Naloxone has long been available in healthcare facilities to reverse opioid overdose rapidly and safely but is not universally accessible for use in community settings where overdoses occur. We conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) programs in three types of community settings to reduce overdose deaths among people who use opioids nonmedically.

Methods

We systematically searched electronic databases, including Medline (OVID), Embase (OVID), Psycinfo (OVID), and Global H

SUBMITTER: Fischer LS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11934755 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature