Naloxone

Common strategies to implement Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution (OEND) programs have included technical assistance to partner organizations, innovative training strategies, and the identification and preparation of local champions.

Evidence for the intervention

Evidence supporting opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) programs is summarized in at least eight systematic reviews. These draw mostly from observational study designs, including case series, cohort studies, and quality improvement studies. There are very few randomized controlled trials evaluating OEND programs, largely due to the overwhelming body of real-world evidence supporting naloxone distribution; this is common for interventions with substantial face-value credibility, such as parachutes or epinephrine pens. The few existing randomized controlled trials of OEND programs tend to compare one OEND implementation strategy to another OEND implementation strategy

Evidence-based Scale

OEND programs seek to address the key factors that facilitate effective use of naloxone:

  1. Ensure individuals have naloxone when they need it (i.e. when experiencing an opioid overdose)
  2. Educate individuals on how to recognize an overdose and use the naloxone delivery service
  3. Encourage individuals to use naloxone when needed

OEND programs play an important role in any larger treatment strategy for substance use disorder, which can also include counseling and medications for opioid use disorder (e.g., buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone).