ABSTRACT

Drug overdose deaths continue to rise in the United States. Two out of three overdose deaths involve an opioid, which includes prescription opioids, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. Naloxone is thought to be a competitive antagonist of the mu-, kappa-, and delta-receptors, inhibiting both the toxic and clinical effects of opioids, making it an effective antidote for opioid overdoses. Access to naloxone has been increasing in recent years. Between 2017 and 2018, naloxone prescriptions doubled from 270,000 prescriptions written in 2017 to 556,000 prescriptions written in 2018. The opioid crisis was created by multiple factors, and it will take a concerted effort from multiple disciplines, including healthcare professionals, legislators, and the general public, to address it effectively. Wider access to naloxone is an important component to help fight opioid deaths and ensure that this crisis does continue in the future.