Impact of policy changes on the provision of naloxone by pharmacies in Ontario, Canada: a population-based time-series analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

In June 2016, the Ontario, Canada government implemented the Ontario Naloxone Program for Pharmacies (ONPP), authorizing pharmacists to provide injectable naloxone kits at no charge to all Ontario residents. In March 2018, the program was amended to include intranasal naloxone and remove the requirement to present a government health card to the dispensing pharmacist. We examined whether these changes increased naloxone dispensing through the ONPP.

Design

Population-based time-series analysis using interventional autoregressive integrated moving average models.

Setting

Ontario, Canada.

Participants

All Ontario residents between 1 July 2016 and 31 March 2020.

Measurements

Monthly rates of pharmacy naloxone dispensing.

Findings

O

SUBMITTER: Antoniou T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8247272 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature