Naloxone Availability in Community Pharmacies, 2019

Abstract

\n Background: Increasing the availability of naloxone among friends and family of past and present opioid users is a vitally important mission to reduce the occurrence of opioid-related overdose deaths. The purpose of this study was to determine the availability of naloxone in independent pharmacies in Georgia. Secondary objectives include determining pharmacists’ knowledge regarding the standing order and ability to counsel regarding naloxone.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of ten months. The study was population based and was conducted at all independent pharmacies in the state of Georgia. All independent pharmacies in the state of Georgia were contacted and asked the below questions with a 96% response rate (n=520). Results: 558 independent, retail pharmacies were called, with a 96% response rate (n=520 pharmacies). Two hundred-twenty pharmacies reported having naloxone in stock. Of the 335 pharmacists asked, 174 (51.9%) incorrectly said that a prescription was required. The mean (SD) cash price was $148.02 (27.40), with a range of $0 to $300. Of 237 pharmacists asked who had naloxone in stock or who stated they could get naloxone in stock, 212 stated that they could, 8 stated they could not, and 17 said that they possibly could or were unsure how to do it. Conclusions: This study provided insight into the limited availability of naloxone at independent retail pharmacies in Georgia after the standing order was issued. The majority of pharmacist’s at independent pharmacies in Georgia were incorrectly under the impression a prescription was needed to obtain naloxone. This is an even greater barrier to access and may also contribute to the infrequency of independent pharmacies stocking naloxone. The low availability of naloxone, its high cost for uninsured individuals, and the lack of pharmacists’ knowledge of the laws surrounding its dispensing are significant structural barriers to access for a drug that can help offset opioid-related mortality.