Abstract

Naloxone is an antagonist used to temporarily reverse the physiological effects associated with opioid overdose. Nearly every state has enacted legislation that permits pharmacists to distribute the medication without a prescription [1]. This practice provides those in the social or drug-using networks of an at-risk individual to administer naloxone for emergency treatment purposes, when the first signs and symptoms related to an overdose are recognized. Naloxone is touted in the media as a “miracle drug” that saves lives [2,3]. This is true; research demonstrates that when naloxone is available to community members, opioid related deaths decrease in that community [4]. It is important, however, to promote to the general public and public health decision makers that naloxone is not a panacea for drug addiction. Treatment options involve a range of strategies and are associated with variable effectiveness, but in the absence of comprehensive treatment programs, a steadfast social support network, prescription monitoring programs, and long-term clinical support that includes psychiatric care, medication management and substance abuse monitoring, the cycle of overdose and naloxone treatment continues [5-7].