WHAT IS NALOXONE?

Naloxone is a prescription drug that reversesopioid overdose by blocking opioid receptor sites in the brain (opioid antagonist). Common opioids include heroin, morphine, and oxycodone. Naloxone can be given by intranasal spray, intramuscular injection, or auto-injector.

WHY PROVIDE NALOXONE AT UC DAVIS?

UC Davis Student Data

  • 8.7% of males and 5.6% of females have used drugs (excluding cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana) within the last 30 days
  • 4.5% of both males and females have used prescription painkillers that were not prescribed to them in last 12 months (the highest rate of use compared to UC Davis student use of sedatives, anti-depressants, and stimulants that were not prescribed to them)

The Opioid Epidemic

  • 2014 marked the greatest US overdose deaths on record; the majority of these deaths involved opioids
  • Unintentional overdose deaths from prescription opioids havemore than quadrupled since 1999
  • An estimated 2.1 million people in the United States suffer from substance use disorders related to prescription opioids and an estimated 467,000 are addicted to heroin.

Proactive Approach

  • Since 2013, UC Santa Cruz has had several student deaths due to opioids. Naloxone is now available to students through their health center. Students pay a $5 copay and UC SHIP covers the cost ($65)

WHAT ARE THE NOTABLE LAWS?

  • A licensed health care provider who is authorized by law to prescribe an opioid antagonist may issue standing orders for the distribution of an opioid antagonist to a person at risk of an opioid-related overdose or to a family member, friend, or other person in a position to assist a person at risk of an opioid-related overdose
  • The California State Board of Pharmacy has approved regulations for pharmacists to dispense naloxone without a prescription. One hour of continuing education is required and pharmacists must provide the patient resources to those to whom they dispense

HOW WOULD WE OBTAIN AND DISTRIBUTE NALOXONE AT SHCS?

  1. Establish buy-in from SHCS Pharmacy and/or identify a licensed health care providerto write a standing order
  2. Identify a local opioid overdose prevention and treatment training program; provide 1 hour of continuing education to appropriate pharmacists and/or providers
  3. Contact distributors and calculate costs to SHIP and non-SHIP students; decide between the nasal spray, auto-injector or syringe kit
  4. Write protocol for UC Davis Pharmacy distribution
  5. Put together a kit to dispense, including resources, steps to prevent overdose death and graphics that instruct the user how to safely use naloxone
  6. Devise a Marketing and Outreach plan to communicate naloxone availability to students, with special consideration to high-risk students

RESOURCES & REFERENCES

ACHA-NCHA II UC Davis Undergraduates 2015