Increasing Naloxone Access for Persons Who Use Opioids

Summary

Deaths relating to opioid overdose have rapidly increased over the past two decades. Due to the serious public health concern of the opioid epidemic, federal agencies recommend employing various harm reduction interventions. The implementation of Opioid Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution (OEND) programs is effective in reducing opioid overdose mortality, yet these programs do not reach many high-risk individuals. Traditionally, OEND program venues are found in large, urban medical centers, drug treatment facilities, and needle exchange programs. Identifying unreached, high-risk individuals and providing training and naloxone kits through online recruitment could significantly expand access to this life-saving intervention. The primary goal of the current proposed project is to examine the acceptability and feasibility of online recruitment, online opioid overdose and naloxone administration education, and postal distribution of naloxone kits.

Timeline

Start

2021-07-11

Primary completion

2022-01-13

Completion

2022-01-13

Publications

• Sisson ML, Azuero A, Hawes E, Chichester KR, Carpenter MJ, Businelle MS, Shelton RC, Cropsey KL. Characterizing Individuals Who Elect and Decline Opioid Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution to Tailor Programs and Expand Impact. J Addict Med. 2025 May-Jun 01;19(3):268-273. doi: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000001407. Epub 2024 Nov 8.
• Sisson ML, Azuero A, Chichester KR, Carpenter MJ, Businelle MS, Shelton RC, Cropsey KL. Preliminary effectiveness of online opioid overdose and naloxone administration training and impact of naloxone possession on opioid use. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2023 Aug 1;249:110815. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110815. Epub 2023 Jun 7.
• Sisson ML, Azuero A, Chichester KR, Carpenter MJ, Businelle MS, Shelton RC, Cropsey KL. Feasibility and acceptability of online opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution: Study protocol and preliminary results from a randomized pilot clinical trial. Contemp Clin Trials Commun. 2023 Apr 5;33:101131. doi: 10.1016/j.conctc.2023.101131. eCollection 2023 Jun.

Drugs

Indications